Slurp down some ramen on the next cool day
COMMENTARY bowls are the star of the show — there’s a limited menu. No sushi. No major entrees except for some rice dishes. Believe me — you don’t want another dish. About nine ramen options ($8.50-$11) are offered, including a chef ’s special. These bowls come with toppings — but you can add a host of extras such as dumplings, corn and pickled ginger. The shio butter ramen ($9) is my perfect combination: saltiness from the, well, salt-based broth along with some fattiness from the butter. A hardboiled egg, roast pork, fish cakes, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and scallions top it off. (8255 International Drive, No. 136, Orlando; 407-3637200; Hanamizuki.us)
This restaurant spoons up about six signature ramens. For me, the spicy miso ramen ($12) offered tasty complex flavors. The tongue tingling spice is muted a bit thanks to the savoriness of the miso (fermented soybeans). Jade Sushi was generous with their toppings: bok choy, baby corn, braised pork slices, scallions and a soy sauce-marinated soft-boiled egg. (2425 Edgewater Drive in Orlando; 407422-7968; JadeNewAsian .com)
Jinya Ramen Bar: A fairly new restaurant, Jinya filled its menu with the most signature ramen options on this list : 13, not counting chef and seasonal specials. Bowls range from $10.95-$15 — and noodle refills are available for $2.50. (8 N. Summerlin Ave. in Orlando; 407-704-1825; Jinya-RamenBar.com)
Don’t miss out on Jimotti’s tonkotsu ramen ($9.80) from the lineup of nine options. A white, milk, thick broth is created from pork bone boiled in water for hours. It produces a rich, meaty liquid that sticks to your lips — and your belly. Braised pork, fishcake and vegetables finish off the dish. (2545 S. French Ave. in Sanford; 407-952-3329; Jimotti.com)
Sapporo Ramen: Hole-inthe-wall Sapporo delivers big on flavor — particularly with its miso ramen ($9). A heaping bowl full of savory broth, bok choy, corn, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, green onions, braised pork and fish cake will keep you full for awhile. (5080 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando; 407-203-6777)