Tonkotsu ramen + gyoza lunch set ($21+)!
Somerset Japanese — tonkotsu ramen with rolled chashu, bok choy, bean sprouts, scallions, sesame in pork bone broth, side of pan-fried gyoza with soya-vinegar dip. $21+ set.
Lunch today: tonkotsu ramen + gyoza set at a Somerset Japanese spot for $21+. 😋
What was on the table ($21+ set):
- Tonkotsu ramen in a dragon-pattern bowl: pork bone broth with 2 rolled chashu slices, bok choy, beansprouts, chopped scallions and sesame seeds.
- A gyoza plate of 5 pan-fried dumplings with crispy golden bottoms.
- A soya-vinegar dipping sauce ramekin.
Tonkotsu broth is made by boiling pork bones for hours until the fat and collagen emulsify into that signature cloudy, milky, rich soup, and this one had proper body to it, clinging to the noodles. The chashu here is the rolled kind (pork belly rolled and braised, then sliced into pinwheels) rather than flat slices, which is the slightly more premium presentation, and it was tender and melty.
The ramen-and-gyoza pairing is the classic Japanese duo for a reason. These pan-fried dumplings had the textbook crispy, lacy “hane” base, browned and crackly on the bottom while juicy inside, and the soya-vinegar dip cuts through with a tangy lift. A satisfying mid-tier Japanese set, the kind of comforting ramen lunch that hits the spot.
Overall: 4.3 / 5. The broth had milky tonkotsu depth, the rolled chashu was tender, and the gyoza had a textbook crispy bottom. Solid Japanese set. 😋👍🏼
