I had the Chashu at $5.90 and it was quite tasty. Mandarin Centre food court is open everyday until about 8 pm. 2 hours free parking at the linked council car park on Albert Ave, no time limit after 7 pm. Chatswood shopping is very busy on Sats so I don't recommend going on that day.
Yeah, I first spotted them today. You can tell from the good wish bouquets.
You can also tell from the huge sign in the photo that says "Grand Opening" ;-)
Excellent deal. What time do they open?
Well I've never been in the Centre earlier than lunchtime, but I would guess in time for the lunch crowd, 11 or 12 maybe?
Is the place run by real Japanese? They look kinda Chinese from the blurry pic.. and Chinese/Korean run Japanese shops arent exactly the best..
They looked more like Japanese than Chinese but who knows these days? You could go there and try your konichi-wa on them. :)
haha.. It gets a bit weird though walking into a "Japanese restaurant" when they speak Cantonese Chinese in the back there (trust me, I've been to many of those and all have been terrible)..
Yeah, those Chinese are everywhere, even pizza stores. ;)
If only Steve Jobs was Chinese and lived in the 13th century, he would sue those damned Italians knocking off the concept of Pizza and Pasta! :)
I kind of agree with bchliu, ramen prepared by the chinese tend to have slightly watered down broth compared to ones made by Japanese cooks.
Places where I know chefs are japanese: Zenya noodle house in Eastwood and Genki Rahmen in Artarmon. There's also another one in the city World Square, called Miso. They have amazing tonkatsu pork.
I always go to Menya Mappen for lunch when I am in the city, great noodles and cheap too. spicy pork udon is great.
Yeh they're Korean, heard them speaking that in the back from the older man (who I assume is the owner). Portions look quite small, and soup doesn't really look authentic. I think this "ramen" is actually a rehashed egg noodle. But for $5 can't complain
If it were run by 'real' Japanese, you'd be looking at $15-20 a bowl.
And having said that, I honestly believe it's impossible to get good Japanese soup noodles in Australia because local substitute ingredients just don't cut it. So you'd may as well just get something that resembles it and save a few bucks whilst you're at it.
If it were run by 'real' Japanese, you'd be looking at $15-20 a bowl.
I guess you don't know about the Sun Sun in Crows Nest then? Ramen starts at $10 or so there. Also there's a place outside Artarmon Station.
Yeah, I live in the place and I've heard the place is run and own by Japanese people. Even in the Crows Nest Plaza, Japanese mart is there too.
I think they are more Kantou(Eastern Japan) style, the same as Genki Ramen Artarmon. $10-15 a bowl they are.
Nah.. Not really.. Genki Ramen in Artamon is only about $10-$12 (similar price to this one).. Even Ryo's in Crows nest(which I consider as one of the best in Sydney) is only couple more than this.
plmko i decided to neg you on …. basically your entire post.
'real' Japanese would NOT cost you $15-20 a bowl, I assume you are talking about Ippudo which is I must say, first of all a worldwide franchise and second of all, aimed squarely at the middle/above average income Westerner - that being situated in Sydney Westfield is a big indicator of this.
Nothing here matches the quality in Japan, but it is extremely offensive (not to me, but to those ramen-ya in Sydney) to say that it is impossible to get good Japanese soup noodles in Australia. Somehow i also doubt your credentials in saying this, since you called ramen/tonkotsu 'soup noodles'.
The only thing I agree with you on is your last sentence. From other people's comments, it indeed sounds like this shop is only imitation ramen.
For anyone else reading this, Sydney is now experiencing a massive boom in very decent quality ramen.
Korean, there's a flower thing with Korean writings on it
It's a good luck bouquet, so it's possible they have Korean friends. But I don't really know. People are welcome to try their Japanese on them and report back.
from what i've been told most of the food places in chatswood are opened by the same few korean owners.
The real reason for me asking this is not because of racism or anything like this - but Japanese Chefs particularly have immigrated into Australia from Japan after years of experience and apprenticeships there after the original sensei's.
Chinese and Korean chefs generally dont have the proper training or in most ways, discipline of the ramen chef - therefore making really below grade food. Either this, or they unknowingly turn it into "fusion" by adding their own culture to it and most often create a weird ass taste to it.
Japanese owned restaurants tend to employ Chinese and Korean staff, because of the high population of Chinese and Korean customers. It's nice for both sides I guess.
Koreans and Chinese can do good Japanese food (can not will). There's plenty of Korean owned Japanese places outside the city. You just don't realise the owner or chef is Korean.
Just went to this place in Chatswood though. Can confirm the noodles are pretty good, and the staff who were serving in Sunday were Japanese.
Damn you, now I want noodles!
We went there for dinner just now. Yes it is open by Japanese. We had 3 bowls of noodle for $18. Awesome value and taste good too.
But I still prefer ippudo at Westfield Pitt st. Anyway, thanks OP!
post before just said its run by koreans lol
Ozbargain now full of food snobs I see. It's 100% Japanese style or nothing now? Ramen was invented in China. By definition it's fusion food. Had Ryo's many times and developed a favorite (hot and spicy). Had the same dish here.
First thing that impressed me is that it only costs $1.80 for extra noodles. Downside that means it's not hand pulled like at Ryo's. Even more impressive is that when I asked for extra noodles because I was hungry the lady said first lot of extra noodles is free. So really that $1.80 is for your second lot of extra noodles ;). The noodles were fine. The pork was nice. The price is good. The broth was OK as well. Ryo's has better broth and noodles and a hard boiled egg but this was cheaper at $9.80. (could be wrong but Ryo's is 12.90 + 3.50 for extra noodles or thereabouts). At $4.90 the other Ramen shop in the same food court won't be doing a lot of business for the next 2 weeks. Would double + you green possum to make up for all the people who just post to prove they are pretentious foodies if I could.
Thanks! Meh, not to worry, I'm actually surprised this deal broke the 10 pos barrier seeing as it's limited to one shop in one location. Obviously a lot of OzBargainers are passionate about food and quite a few of them live within reach of Chatswood. :)
yargnairod, i feel your point is kind of moot (about ramen being from China) because: we are talking about JAPANESE ramen specifically.
The spicy Ramen is very tasty but I think there is a significant amount of MSG in it.
Went for dinner. Korean owned. Not bad for price but nothing to shout about. You can also get 1 free noodle refill. Now that's value!
Just went there for dinner. Got a full bowl of ramen and even got change from a $5 note. Crazy value ends next Thursday.
Says August 15th on the sign…
You guys haven't heard of gumshara? BEST RAMEN IN SYDNEY PERIOD!!!! the head chef in there is also Japanese as well highly recommend you guys check it out.
Use to go there every Friday for lunch. Thickest tonkatsu soup but it tastes soo GOOD!
please don't promote this, i don't need the competition for the limited ribs! :P
No one mentioned the ribs before your post, slowmo… we can still keep it a secret ;)
Gonna go check this out. Better than Makano and Ryos you reckon?
Do you like thick and rich soup?…this one take some real balls to hammer it down. This is not soft stuff.
too hardcore for me :(
Nah.. Ryo's is definitely the best out there. Gumshara is good - but its one of those that you love or hate since the Soup is super thick (sauce like thickness with all the collagen from the pork cartilage and a bit of starch).
Also pretty surprised that no one has mentioned "Ichi-Ban Star" opposite QVB in the Galleries.. thats also very good too..
No one mentioned the new shop Ramen Ikkyu in Chinatown Sussex food court. It's opened by a chef from a French Japanese restaurant. It's quiet good also.
damn I was at Mandarin Centre food court last night!! just missed!
Just went there. Ordered No#2 (miso ramen with extra pork). The pork is alright but the soup base and noodles not that good.
Saw a guy ordering two bowls of plain noodles for 1.50 (after 50% discount).
I went to Ryo before, nothing special.
Years ago Ichi-ban Boshi in bondi was hands down one of the best.
Boo… went to Mandarin Centre tonight with the family and was looking forward to trying it out but they were sold out! They say it takes two days for them to make their noodles and they couldn't keep up demand and so will reopen on Tuesday. They had to settle for "happy hour" sushi from the Korean-Japanese shop.
Sorry to hear that. Looks like OzBargain is working well.
I was there last Sunday and it was sold out too. The shop was opened but no one there and a sold out sign. In the end went to the other ramen place in the food court. Tasted really crap and costed $13.
just went yesterday. it's all korean owned. the soup is way too salty and no pork flavor, left the tip of my tongue very sensitive due to the extreme saltiness. the pork slices were okay. wouldn't go back.
ramen ikkyu had a sweeter soup base to my liking. hakata maru and ryo's are my favorites. real pork broth!
It's chaos! Due to the prices there are relatively long lines but in a stroke of genius they've managed to intertwine to ordering line and the waiting for noodles line meaning that once you've received your meal you have to navigate the gauntlet of hungry and increasingly irate customers who for some god forsaken reason are forced to wait by the capricious waitress who randomly decides to take orders in between doing other stuff like restocking chopsticks and conferring with the kitchen.
I got this today. Good value at half price, but would never pay the full price.
New store?