Comments on: ramen rating: ajisen ramen – irvine, ca

By: edjusted

edjusted — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:06:35 +0000

@Mina: awesome. If I’m ever in Melbourne, I now know where to eat!

By: Mina

Mina — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:08:24 +0000

@edjusted – Sorry for the delay. Luckily, after exploring around a bit, I have found a few good places to get ramen. Kenzan at the GPO on the corner of Elizabeth St. and Bourke St. has great tonkotsu ramen during the winter. The ramen shop next door, aptly named Ramen-ya, also has great tonkotsu ramen but instead of using fatty pork belly (my favorite), they use char siu. I would say the tonkotsu ramen is better at Ramen-ya, but the fatty pork belly is quite divine at Kenzan. If you ever make it here down under, you must try them out! Definitely stay away from Momotarou Ramen, though. ICK!!

@angkukueh – yes, they do!

By: edjusted

edjusted — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:04:29 +0000

@RamenGaiden: I’d love to hear your opinion about Pei Wei’s new “Japanese Chile Beef Ramen!”

By: RamenGaiden

RamenGaiden — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:30:52 +0000

Doesn’t like it – I have to say that Ramen has become so over played in the US, in terms of the gimmicks that these places try in order to get people in the door. Mind you the food is good. But the pricing is something that you would expect to see somewhere out in a resort town. This place is in the middle of “Asian Central” in terms of its location. Yet they continually rip off the college kids from UCI. What also sucks is the attitude. Sure they yell out the “cheesey” – Ira Shai Mase! That you get at any Japanese themed restaurant. But I really think the place is run by a bunch of Chinese managers. What sucks is that they run it like a Chinese restaurant. The attitudes of the management staff suck. The wait staff in whole are good and attentive. But god forbid you get the guy manager who looks like he is a character from the Sony Final Fantasy Games – or the chick she wears glasses and never smiles. Both are about late 20s to early 30s. They are the dynamic duo in black – they wear black button down shirts and slacks. If you’ve got food allergies – plan on sitting in while your party eats without you. The place does not allow (ANY KIND-even though people sneak boba drinks in) outside food of any kind. The managers will make a scene! They may say Ira Shai Mase! – but the Japanese attitude and respect is lost through a belief that all Asians are as rude as Chinese people.
Lastly, here’s the actual math. They will charge upwards of $8 for a bowl of their most basic ramen. That is with no frills or specials – just the soup and noodles. At another restaurant with the same Ramen Theme (that is also a big Japanese Chain call “FUJI-ICHIBAN” – their logo is a turtle) They break down the math to show people what goes into making the bowl. In total a bowl of ramen (basic) will cost a company about $1.50 to make. That’s 1 bowl no frills or specials. Fujiichiban charges about $5. And believe me the quality in Fujiichiban’s noodles is #1 because they make their stuff daily (all within their locations – that’s one of their attractions – they show it all behind the counter so that you see the start to the finish). The quality in Ajisen is lost in the fact that they are GOUGING the consumer severely – compounded by the lousy service – and the fact that they cannot openly declare what goes into their food – in the event that you or a guest are allergic to food products being served.
Try and eat at the place once or twice, but just know that you are getting ripped off by people who are expecting you to enjoy the fact that you are getting ripped off. In regards to the attitudes of the management staff, all I can say is that racially you people bring a huge discredit to the Japanese community through your lousy attempts at imitation! For the unsuspecting western consumer – you will see what I mean when they try to cram you between some very rude customers at the “community table” – it’s like a pig trough that over-eager ADHD-Chinese customers like to dine at!

By: edjusted

edjusted — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:28:49 +0000

@Mina: Thanks! I’ve been to Sydney but not Melbourne. So there’s no other ramen there except Ajisen?

By: Mina

Mina — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:25:59 +0000

@G – I have only been to one Ajisen and that has been here in Melbourne. I’m a Californian who has been having ramen withdrawal ever since I got here! Ajisen is horrible. Although their soup has an alright flavor, the noodles we got were definitely not ramen noodles. They were almost exactly like spaghetti noodles! Quite disappointing and a bit gross. If you want good ramen, try the tonkotsu ramen at Kenzan (@ the GPO). But hurry! Thy only have it during the winter!

@edjusted – nice review! I so miss Irvine

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:25:29 +0000

URGENT:

don’t go there! service is poor.

Angela ( Chen Yuan Yuan), at Yang Gao Central Road, besides Lotus Supermarket in Shanghai, China.

Rude, dirty and poor attitude.

Place is dirty. Restaurent is also dirty place.

July 27 at around 7pm. Manager is also dirty and rude.

Kitchen is dirty. Angela is flirting with other waiter. and ask the waiter to buy her movie ticket.

By: Josie "Dive Boracay" Kent

Josie "Dive Boracay" Kent — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:45:18 +0000

The foods looks delicious!..
Can I have some?
Can I?
Please..
Love the mascot too!..

By: edjusted

edjusted — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:05:56 +0000

@angkukueh: I’m not sure if the instant ramen version of Ajisen ramen is sold outside of Japan. Can anyone help?

By: angkukueh

angkukueh — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:49:58 +0000

sorry, i mean the melbourne Ajisen…