*** Chabuton has since closed.
Boy, did the hunger pangs really set in during a recent shopping trip to Marukai Costa Mesa. So I decided that I needed something to eat…and fast! Which was a great opportunity to try out the ramen at Chabuton, which opened last year in the Marukai Food Court.
From what I understand Chabuton is the brainchild of Chef Yasuji Morizumi, and is another link in the Chabuya "chain" that has restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, and Los Angeles. There also seems to be a rather strong marketing campaign behind the restaurants. I had gone looking for a good bowl of ramen, and ended up reading phrases like, "ramen is arguably the lifeblood of today’s Japan." "Ramen is an open dialogue…" "When Chabuton introduced Tokyo’s urban style ramen to Los Angeles it sparked a conversation." "Our food is meant to feed the soul." "Chabuton is where Americans are becoming fluent in the spiritual language of gourmet ramen……" I can feel that glazed-over look coming on.
And to think, all I wanted was a bowl of decent ramen…and now I’d be attaining ramen Nirvana…the home of perfect, harmonious, slurping…of endless noodles, and eternal chashu bliss! BTW, I do think the "spiritual language" of ramen is the slurp…..
Dizzy from reading all the signs and mission statements, I was glad that the menu at Chabuton is mercifully short, 9 variations on ramen, some rice bowls, and that was it. So how much for a slice of ramen heaven?
I ordered The Classic with Pork Chashu ($8.25).
So let’s pick over this ramen of the gods….. I thought the soup was a thick, though weak tonkotsu style broth. I also thought the oil content was on the medium low side. Funny thing, because I’ve read that many people think the broth at Chabuya is too salty, but I just thought it was missing that bit of umami that would make it taste really good. As it was, I thought the broth to be on the "flat" side. Basically, rich in texture, not in taste. The bitter fried garlic didn’t do a thing for this bowl of ramen, and I’m a garlic lover. The bamboo shoots were fine, and the thin sliced Chashu pork was excellent, soft, moist, and tender.
The thin noodles had a nice crunchy texture, but was missing that nice springy pull that I enjoy. I still prefer the noodles at Santouka. Overall, a decent, bowl, but not a favorite of mine. But still if you’re shopping at Marukai Costa Mesa, and are "Jonesing" for a bowl of ramen you could do much worse.
Still, I never thought I’d come face to face with the "spiritual soul" of ramen in the food court at Marukai!
Chabuton Ramen Noodles
2975 Harbor Blvd. (In the Marukai Food Court)
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Open – Mon-Sat 11am – 730pm
Sundays 11am – 630pm
Wow pretty pricey for a flat bowl of ramen. Looks like shio/miso base ramen? Boy I haven’t had ramen for a very long time. I think I need to make a pit stop for some tonkatsu ramen.
oh what a shame… something that looks sooooooooooo yummy not taste that great
Dang, I thought I had read some over-inflated marketing-speak, but this Chabuton hype really takes the cake (or bowl of soup?). The question remains: is the spirituality of ramen related in any way to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? π
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster
Such a build up of expectation, for just “another day, another ramen.” Oh well, at least the pork was good. Now you have me in the mood for a chasu ramen at Tajima.
The picture made the ramen look so good though. π
Doesn’t Marukai charge admission? I almost went in until I saw that they charged a membership fee. Wasn’t worth it when Little Saigon and Mitsuwa are so close. The Fountain Valley Shin-sen-gumi is near there too for decent ramen.
Hilarious! I completely have the “glazed-over look,” when the commercials and marketing slogans become more boring than those calculus lectures back in college! At least they didn’t hire K. Fed or Fabio to sell their ramen. That means the marketing strategies are still “okay” at least!
If “ramen is arguably the lifeblood of today’s Japan,” can we call niu rou mien the lifeblood of the Chinese? hehe, just a thought! π
Hi Billy – The ramen looked really good, but only the chashu, and perhaps the noodles were good.
Hi Andy – It does looks good doesn’t it?
Hi mizducky – That’s just a small portion of what I read…like, “delicious flavor and sensitivity that touches your entire being”…..
Hi CJ – It’s ramen time…..
Hi WC – Marukai doesn’t charge “admission”, but it’s a membership market. Memberships are $10 annually, but you can purchase a trial membership good for a month for $1. You’re free to walk around the store, and you may want to do that. I’ve found most prices at Marukai to be cheaper than Nijiya, Mitsuwa, and I prefer the fish at Marukai as well. In addition, I can get all those “local kine” stuffs that are hard to find on the Mainland…or is very overpriced at other places.
Hi PE – Oh my, K-Fed selling ramen…going for the ramen-rap! ;o) LOL!
Hi Kathy – You’ve got a point….sounds about right! And dumplings are the internal organs…funny but that doesn’t sound very appetizing.
I haven’t tried Chabuton yet. That particular location replaced Tampopo, a ramen-ya Cat and I had been going to for over seven years. I’ve been trying to convince her that having some Chabuton wouldn’t be an act of betrayal.
Hi CP – Stick with SSG and Santouka – this place has good noodles and chashu, but I thought the broth was flat.
THEY’RE CLOSED =(
anyone knows if chabuton opens in some other place?
Hi e1n – I think Chabuya is still open in Sawtelle:
2002 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Chabuton’s big sister.