Yuzu shoyu ramen ($15.80++) & Special tendon ($13.80++)!
Tuesday Japanese dinner — yuzu shoyu ramen + special tendon at $15.80++ + $13.80++. The Japanese chain split between BB and me.
Tuesday Japanese dinner with BB — yuzu shoyu ramen + special tendon at $15.80++ + $13.80++. The split between BB and me at a Japanese sit-down chain.
We ordered:
- Yuzu shoyu ramen — $15.80++
- Special tendon — $13.80++
Total: $29.60++ (~$35 final) for both.
The yuzu shoyu ramen is the citrus-upgraded variant on the standard shoyu (soy-based) ramen. Yuzu is the Japanese citrus fruit with the distinctive floral-citrus aroma that’s different from lemon or orange. Adding yuzu peel or yuzu juice to the shoyu base creates a lighter, brighter ramen profile that contrasts against the rich tonkotsu or miso variants.
The yuzu adds the bright citrus aroma to the broth without overwhelming the soy depth. Each spoonful of broth carries the slight floral-yuzu lift that resets the palate. Different from a heavy ramen experience that gets palate-fatiguing after a few bites.
The shoyu base was the clear-amber Tokyo-style broth. Chicken-and-fish dashi with soy sauce providing the salt and the colour. Lighter than tonkotsu, easier to finish without feeling weighed down.
Standard ramen architecture on top — chashu, soft-boiled marinated egg (ajitsuke tamago), menma, chopped scallion, sheet of nori.
The special tendon was the second order. Premium tempura over rice — the upgraded version of the standard tendon with more variety in the tempura selection. Probably included two prawns, a piece of white fish, multiple vegetable tempura pieces (sweet potato, eggplant, pumpkin, lotus root), and a soft-boiled egg fried in tempura batter.
The tempura batter was the test. Proper tempura has the airy translucent crisp — cold batter, hot oil, fast cook, minimal absorption. The bowl had it. Each piece had the hollow-crisp golden shell with the ingredient inside still snappy or tender.
The sweet-soy tare drizzle hits the rice and the tempura, with the rice underneath absorbing the sauce as you eat.
At $15.80++ + $13.80++ this is fair Japanese chain pricing. The ++ adds about 18% for service and GST.
Overall: 4.5 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Strong yuzu shoyu ramen + special tendon split — would re-order both.
