The Hungry Russian

Oct 22

Naruto Ramen
276 5th Ave, Brooklyn 11215
(Btwn Garfield & 1st St)

I’m pretty sure that many of us can recall our poor college days when a basic food staple for us used to be Nissin Cup O Noodles. Nothing could beat Cup O Noodles when you were in a pinch and had only a few bucks to your name! Never mind the fact that this sodium infused meal replacement was probably one of the most unhealthiest things you could eat. The point was that it got you through your day or night! Little did I know back then that Cup O Noodles is actually based on a more authentic Japanese treat called Ramen. Ramen is essentially a noodle dish served in various types of broths from miso to fish to meat and various others. In the past several years, Ramen has become extremely popular and dare I say trendy in New York with some places having a long line out the door. As it turns out, Park Slope has several ramen spots but I have to say that the one I frequent the most is Naruto Ramen.

Tantan Ramen: At Naruto this has always been one of my favorite ramens. The Tantan ramen consists of a spicy sesame broth that is hearty, flavorful, and is sure to warm your bones on a cold day. In this wonderful broth you will also find minced pork, a small fish cake, beansprouts, and scallions. The pork on its own is very tender and flavorful but after it has spent some time soaking up that wonderful broth it becomes even more delicious. The soft thin noodles are also very tasty after they absorb some liquid. If you’re going to Naruto for the first time, I would highly recommend you start with the Tantan ramen simply because it’s bursting with flavor!

Hell’s Fire Kimchee Ramen: If you love Kimchee (Korean spicy cabbage) then you are sure to love this ramen. If you are weary of spicy foods then you will most assuredly hate this ramen and blame me for your burnt tongue. Although you can order this ramen with varying degrees of spice it will still be somewhat spicy to the uninitiated. Besides the fiery spice of this ramen there are two things I specifically love about it. The incredibly tender, smokey, and flavorful pieces of roast pork and the hard boiled egg. The pork and the egg both absorb a lot of rich flavor from the broth. I really love this ramen on days when I’m sick with a cold. The warm spicy liquid soothes your throat and definitely relieves a stuffed nose.

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Naruto Ramen is a wonderful little cozy spot that serves up some of the tastiest ramen as well as other Japanese treats. The ramens are full of flavor and large in size. One ramen alone is like having an entire meal! I have often wondered how some people can put away an entire bowl of ramen with several mugs of Sapporo beer. More power to them! If you’re looking for a delicious Japanese comfort food then look no further! Throw out your entire stock of Cup O Noodles and head on over to Naruto Ramen for the real deal!