Anniversary special. Only $10 for both Shirumaru Motoaji (normally $15) and Akamaru Shinjuku ($16).
Had it for the first time today. Worth the $10 in my opinion.
$10 Ramen at Ippudo Macquarie or Chatswood (NSW) Anniversary Special
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kvince on 02/08/2016 - 21:30 facebook.com (2601 clicks)
Last edited 02/08/2016 - 21:34 by 1 other user
Last edited 02/08/2016 - 21:34 by 1 other user
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Tried once, and never again. God its full of MSG and Salt. Pretty much a sign that they don't make their soups fresh and use pre-packages soup mixes.
If ya want a good Ramen, read the post below. HahaSalty yes, msg probably no.
But that is just the way they are, if you've been to Japan you will know.
$10 is not bad. $15 is too much. I've been 3x, i regretted it everytime, feels like a small bowl of glorified salty instant noodles
$10 is not bad. $15 is too much. I've been 3x, i regretted it everytime, feels like a small bowl of glorified salty instant noodles
In agreement with you about the Ramen. It is much better at other places - Ichiban Boshi for example. However, their Pork dumpling things are nice. I wish they would have a special on those.
Ippudo is a rip off. So expensive for noodles, and to get a decent bowl you have to add all the extras ($$) which come standard at most other ramen places. They do taste pretty good but the servings are quite small and you leave feeling a bit ripped off. Probably worth it at $10 though.
Ippudo isn't very good in Australia, a common chain store which is screwed up by franchising, and a heap of MSG if you are into that stuff only slightly better than Ajisen Ramen.
Ippudo in Japan isn't too bad but it isn't the best.The best ramen in Sydney would be Gumshara in a food court in Haymarket. It makes by far the closest authentic cha siu tonkotsu (Pork Marrow / Collagen) ramen with a very thick broth. I'd say its about 80-90% close to what you'd get in Japan. They also refrain from adding MSG, which pretty much all other japanese ramen place uses, because they don't use enough pork bones therefore need MSG to compensate.
I'd recommend getting their thick traditional cha siu ramen, and taste the real Japanese ramen, then if its too thick, then you can get them to add some soup into it afterwards.
I've had over 24 different ramen places in japan, and most of them are rated by Japanese Locals as the best ramen places over the last few years, and I can say Gumshara is EXTREMELY close.
Gumshara is actually a sister store to the famous Muteppou store in Japan, they only have like a dozen stores in Japan, so they aren't a big commercialized franchise which usually turns the ramen into crap.In Melb, the best place would be Mr Ramen San, which also does a similar one, but not as thick however doesn't use MSG at all. This one is around 60-70% close to Japan. No other place in Melbourne does a good authentic one (Hakata Gensuke and Little Ramen Bar isn't that authentic).
They may not add MSG but if the ramen contains:
Meat,
Vegetables,
Seaweed,
Soy,
Anything with broken down plant or animal proteinsThen it has MSG in it.
Lol when you've tasted what real jpn tonkotsu ramen should taste like then you will notice that they use MSG seasoning to enhance flavours. Its very obvious.
I know that other stuff adds msg naturally e.g. seaweed naturally has MSG.
My wife can tell when they used ajimoto or other MSG powders because she gets a allergic reaction to it but if its natural occuring MSG she is fine with it.
I have tasted real Japanese tonkotsu. From Menya, Golden Gai, Ramen Jiro, Chabuya.
Its odd her reaction can distinguishes between naturally occurring and artifical. Considering they are the exact same chemically and both break down into glutamate and a sodium ion once ingested.
@shanakatak: I think the difference is concentration. Its like having sugar vs having fruits.
Lol Ramen Jiro i remember having that one, lol. that one is scary. They stick in around 1 tablespoon of MSG into the bowl before serving lol. It was miraculous.Im aware of the concentration issue and its unique taste once they start lumping it in. But blanketing msg as bad is factually wrong.
What do you think of menya ramen?
I like menyas curry fried chicken rice (not the crumbed chicken). Best ive had in sydney. Their ramen might be average though. Better value than ippudo though. I had the same thoughts as the other posters after ippudo, too small, not enough extras and too expensive.
I'd recommend getting their thick traditional cha siu ramen, and taste the real Japanese ramen, then if its too thick, then you can get them to add some soup into it afterwards.
They let you have more soup!?
Since when?You just bring the bowl back to them and say its too thick and then they just add soup for ya.
Been like that for a few yrs now
Gumshara is so heavy, though! Certainly eat it sparingly.
Haha Authentic tonkotsu ramen should be heavy as it uses a hell of alot of pork bones which has alot of marrow.
There are fake tonkotsu around though where the shop uses MSG and lard to make it look like they used alot of pork bones.
What about Manpuku?
I agree, Gumshara's tonkotsu ramen is the best! 😝
$15 is a rip off. full stop.
You think $15 is a rip off?
I had a $40 bowl of ramen in Geneva, Switzerland recently.
Wasn't at a fancy place either, it's how much eating out actually cost there!
It's outrageous how stingy they are with the meat, even $10 is a bit much for what this is. Many better options in Chatswood for the same money
Could you please share a few names? I work in Chatswood and am looking out for new places to try (that are recommended)
Manpuku
Not an exhaustive list but some of my favourites in Chatswood
East West in the Mandarin food court - Hainan chicken $11.50, or combination noodles about $13 (can't remember exact name it's #3 on their menu)
Khao Pla - any of their weekday lunch specials, or pad kee mao noodles $12.50
Mamak - Nasi Lemak with a side of fried chicken about $13
Grill'd burgers about $13
Din Tai Fung - Spicy shrimp and pork wonton noodles $13.80
Also New Shanghai in lemon grove if you like dumplings
It's so expensive at its current price, but it a nice bowl of ramen. Can't go wrong with $10.
Terrible ramen at this place, wouldn't go there even if there was a $5 promo.
Ryo's Noodles in crows nest is my favorite place in Sydney (I like it better than gumshara)
Ryos is so expensive now … they used to be quite cheap but prices have gone up alot. Their ramen is consistent though.
Ajisen FTW
Lol Ajisen…. they don't even make the soup themselves, its all pre-packaged concentrate.
what makes Ippudo any different?
Nothing, which is why i said it was crap and offered other ones which actually don't use pre-packaged concentrate.
See my above post about good ramen in Sydney and Melb.
Ajisen is one of the worst places you can go for ramen in Sydney.
Yasaka, Ichiban Boshi, Ramen Zundo, Ryo's, Ramen Ikkyu, Gumshara, Menya (and the super cheap Tenkomori) … Those places are a hundred times better than Ajisen.
hmm, but we're talking about large companies here not small businesses
Just because it's a large company doesn't necessarily mean it's good
@Bearosaurus: Come try ramen in Sydney where we're spoilt for choice! And try the Ajisen one so you can see why I say it's poor :P
Interesting.. No one mentioned Manpuku.. Thats at the top of my list at the moment probably along with Chaco Bar
Chaco Bar… never tried the Ramen there since their skewers and everything else is so goood!
Going for this promo tonight.
The Ippudo in Sydney(George St Westfields) isn't as good as the one I've tried in Osaka Japan.
My favourite ramen places in Sydney:- Menya (Their salt based soup ramen (SHIO RAMEN) which is also their cheapest is the best tasting. Not too salty and not too thick. The broth is nice. Their toppings are good too.)
- Ippudo (IMO although expensive, isn't too bad. I think their pork buns are a disgrace to their name though. Absolutely tastless, small and very much overhyped. If you like this type of buns, the very best ones are in Taiwan. Commonly known as "Gua Bao".
- Ryo's Noodles. Arguably just as good as Ippudo in Sydney, if not better. I haven't had much chance to try all their flavours. From memory, it was pricey and a bit small.
- Manpuku. Not much to say. Good taste.
Avoid:
Gumshara, Ajisen Ramen, the 2 ramen places in Mandarin Centre in Chatswood.Avoid:
GumsharaLOL
I love how people are fighing for their love of ramen in here :D
Family doesn't like gumshara too much because it's too thick they say (not for me)
I personally didn't like Menya Noodle Bar's Tonkotsu.
My favourite is Manpuku, although I don't mind Ippudo but you can tell Manpuku's soup is made by themselves since the consistency varies (once it was too thick).
Ippudo is always consistent.
I'm not really a fan of the only Ippudo I've tried which was in Pitt Street Mall.
However, +1 because I agree it would be worth $10.