We all had those days in college- the budget was stretched thin but another trip to the dining hall was enough to make our stomachs turn so we turned to that Styrofoam container of salty goodness: Ramen. Heated up in our dorm issued microwaves, it was fast, it was easy and it was cheap. Of course, now years out of college, when we hear the word Ramen, our mind immediately transports back to those days with just a little nostalgia….and a little disgust. However, more and more Ramen, the real stuff served in restaurants, is taking the world by storm as one of the biggest “fad” meals of the past year.
So what is “real” Ramen? Generally speaking, Ramen refers to a soup noodle dish with its origin in Japan. However from that point on Ramen takes on a new meaning at the hands of its maker. Broths can be made with chicken bones, pork bones, and/or dried sardines for base flavor and then a variety of vegetables can be added to create deeper flavor such as mushrooms, ginger or onion. Normally Ramen broth takes on one of four different flavor profiles- salt, soy, pork or miso. Chukamen noodles (made from wheat flour and an alkaline solution) are then added to the broth to create basic Ramen, and then a variety of toppings, from dried seaweed and bamboo shoots to egg and Pork are added to give the Ramen different characteristics.
So where do you find the good stuff here in Boston?
Snappy Sushi, Newbury St, Boston: Snappy Sushi brought Ramen on to their menu in late summer 2013, and have had a rotation of about three different Ramens since opening. When I visited there was a spicy lobster, a miso and a pork, but they won my affection by allowing me to use the spicy broth from the lobster and topping it with pork rather than the crustacean. Additionally, they brought over a custom made blend of dried spices to let me kick up the heat as much as I so chose. I was sold!
Yume Wo Katare, Porter Square, Cambridge: Serving just one type of broth, ordering at Yume Wo Katare is pretty simple. Your options are for 3 pieces of pork to top your mound of noodles, veggies and broth, or for 5 pieces of pork. From there you can customize if you want garlic, and a variety of other vegetables all at no extra cost. Yume Wo Katare boasts having the biggest bowls of Ramen in the city, and the simplest ordering process!
Uni, Commonwealth Ave, Boston: Uni is a personal favorite of mine though they are only dishing up their bowls of authentic Ramen just three nights a week (Thursday through Saturday and only after 11pm). They offer three different types normally, a traditional, their short rib, and a vegetable style. This is a bit of a die hard way to enjoy the soup, but in true style of Uni, it’s worth it.
Sapporo Ramen, Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge: Sapporo is offering up nine different types of Ramen all based off of their own chicken and vegetable ten hour broth but varying the toppings. Selections include their own House Ramen topped with pork, egg, beansprouts, nori, corn, and scallions, their Spicy Miso Ramen, topped with spicy ground pork and even a Kim Chi style and a Curry flavored Ramen.
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Food & Drink in Fall River
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Papa John's has been popping out perfectly personalized pies 'round the clock for more than 25 years, arranging a lineup of specialty pizzas and sides on a munificent menu. Patrons can bedeck dough disks with carnivorous confetti in the form of pepperoni, ham, spicy italian sausage, bacon, sausage, beef, or grilled chicken. Golden-voiced fresh vegetables make palates swoon with a jukebox's selection of green peppers, portobello mushrooms, roma tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, onions, black olives, pineapple, banana peppers, and newly harvested 45s. Eaters can prod cooks with the click of a mouse, alerting them to special requests such as an extra layer of parmesan romano or the three-cheese blend of the asiago, fontina, and provolone. Like a popular club or an especially bangin’ fireplace store, Papa John's stays open late, making it an opportune place to stock up for impromptu pajama jams and uncontrollable sleep-feasting.
1672 Pleasant St
Fall River,
MA
US
Chicken wings, littleneck clams, and garlic bread introduce Fall River Grill's spread of Portuguese cuisine. From top to bottom, the menu is packed with meat and foreign words—bifana, grilled pork cutlets in a sandwich; bife, which means steak; whole grilled chicken known as frango grelhado; and the traditional sausage called chouriço. Seafood makes a big splash at the restaurant, too; there’s enough salmon, boiled cod, and shrimp to convince most people that marine life really does exist. Before you start stuffing yourself, plan to leave just enough stomach space for sweet desserts such as passionfruit pudding and coconut tarts.
363 2nd St
Fall River,
MA
US
When Simon and Jennifer Sousa opened Adagio Piano Lounge, they thought music would be the focus. That's why they planned to offer only a short menu of appetizers and drinks. But with Jennifer's mother, Lucy, in the kitchen, food became much more than an afterthought; her dishes garnered praise from patrons as well as The Herald News. Visitors can devour steamed littleneck clams in garlic sauce, chicken marsala, or Portuguese steak while live bands or dueling pianists perform in the background. Bartenders mix martinis and pitchers of sangria to pair with sumptuous entrees.
227 S Main St
Fall River,
MA
US
The chefs at Tap House Grille wrap bacon around meatloaf, top hand-formed Angus beef patties with guacamole and roasted chilies, and put inventive spins on classic American dishes. In the dining room, flatscreen televisions hang above tufted banquettes and a handsome wooden bar keeps more than 50 bottled beers and 24 rotating drafts chilled. On Friday and Saturday nights, live music, comedy acts, and Simon Says tournaments entertain patrons, and a complimentary valet service babysits patrons’ cars.
159 S Main St
Fall River,
MA
US
The most popular dish at BK's Beacon Light Tavern is a pub classic: a heaping portion of beer-battered fish and chips, freshly fried and plated with coleslaw and creamy tartar sauce. There's more to the menu, however, including hefty burgers, locally sourced seafood, and housemade soups and salads. A full bar and live entertainment make it easy to unwind at this neighborhood spot.
320 Airport Rd
Fall River,
MA
US
Yes, you can hear the cheers of Red Sox fan's during a home game at Jerry Remy's Sports Bar & Grill at Fenway. And the park's right field wall is easily viewed from a spacious rooftop deck. But the interior is what really reminds you that you're dining at the brainchild of the Sox's beloved announcer and former second baseman. Katharine Q. Seelye of The New York Times said in a 2010 article, "The most striking feature inside the restaurant is the view—on television. Two outsize high-definition televisions, measuring 11 feet long and costing $225,000 each, hang above the bar." The "screen monsters" make you wonder if you've stumbled onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange or a spaceship control-deck manned by extraterrestrial sports fans. If you can't find a seat near the bar, there are 30 60-inch high-def televisions scattered throughout the pub.
Jerry Remy's generously portioned menu has caught as much attention as its collection of huge TVs. Robert Nadeau of the Boston Phoenix said, "Most of the scoring on this menu comes out of a Texas-style barbecue smoker," citing the authentic taste of the beef brisket and the juiciness of the smoked half-chicken. Bella English of the Boston Globe agreed that the large smoker located in the parking lot makes “succulent brisket, ribs, and chicken,” and reported that the huge desserts "must be seen to be believed."
326 N Main St
Fall River,
MA
US
