Sesame flavored “Tan Tan Men”
Imagine you’re walking down a busy street at night. In Japan. The sidewalk is slippery and your hood is drenched. You’re cold, hungry, and desperately wishing for something warm.
You turn the corner into a dark alley and stumble upon a tiny restaurant. You push the door open a crack.
Inside, five cooks shout out in a chorus “Irrashaimase!” as you enter the tiny space, a warm oasis from the harsh elements outside. The cooks are hard at work, hand-kneading ramen noodles. Steam rises from countless pots of water boiling the fresh noodles. You tentatively request “the most famous dish” (your Japanese is lacking and that is all you can muster). The noodle soup that emerges is perfect: fat chewy noodles, piping hot broth, and deliciously tender slices of fragrant roast pork.
If only I could relive that moment again. That was me, back in April, stumbling upon Suzuran in a dark alley in Shibuya, Japan. Since then, I have not stopped in a ramen restaurant in the States, fearing it would be nothing like that experience. Well, nine months later, I finally tried my first ramen place in Boston after leaving Japan.
House Ramen
Being at Sapporo Ramen is almost reminiscent of being at a noodle bar in Japan, although the effect gets a bit lost once you realize you’re actually in a small university/mall. It’s nothing like being at Suzuran, but if you stay in the little foodstall area and use your imagination, you can almost believe you are in Japan. After all, you are surrounded by other tiny Japanese eateries, and the atmosphere of the place feels Japanese enough, I guess.
The space at Sapporo Ramen is tiny, crowded, and minimalistic. The cooks stand right in front, feverishly working to churn out hot, piping bowls of ramen. Although there’s no “Irrashaimase!” when you first enter, the staff is friendly enough. The ramen broth is deep, rich, and flavorful, a result of bones simmering for hours over a low flame.
Despite the simplicity, there are cute reminder of Japan at each table.
Spicy Miso Ramen
And the dishes are good. Soy based broths, Miso-based broths. You can even get a sesame version, which has a super deep sesame flavor, although it’s quite rich and I had trouble finishing it.
This place is simple, cheap, authentic, and extremely popular. During busy times, be prepared to wait in line for one of the handful of available tables.
Even if you don’t like ramen, the Porter Exchange Mall is worth visiting if you like Japanese stuff in general. There are many great reasonably priced eateries such as Cafe Mami (Japanese curry, hamburgs, etc), Bluefin (sushi sit-down restaurant), Cho Cho’s (Korean food), a boba tea stand, a sushi bar, and a few other small eateries with which I am not as familiar. There’s a Japanese bakery as well. Not to mention an awesome gift shop that sells some of my favorite Japanese characters. All in all, a great place to visit!
Oh how I miss Japan!
Sapporo Ramen
Porter Exchange Mall
1815 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140
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Do you think – that you could label the photographs with which menu items they are?
I love ramen, to me, it is the ultimate comfort food, especially on a rainy, dreary day! I have a few favorites here in SF but it would be fun to check out this place in MA–as well as anywhere in Japan. Straight to the source!
Ramen does wonders for the soul and body on cold days. It’s not available in my college town so I either have to go through withdrawal or eat the red package sapporo ramens until I go back to Atlanta.
I want ramen now. Ahh….
Anonymous – yes! I can do that. Post will be updated momentarily.
I visited the Japanese stalls a few weeks ago and fell in love. I also wish I could go back to Japan soon, but this can be the next best thing!
I agree, there are not many places in Boston that are comparable to the ramen-ya in Japan, but Sapporo does a pretty good job. I’ve heard that Ken’s (attached to the Super 88 in Brighton) is good as well but I have not visited.
There is an Ippudo branch in NYC. Much more expensive than Tokyo but the noodles and broth are spot on.
Mmm, I had a wonderful (and similar) experience in Asakusa with a big steamy bowl of spicy sesame ramen. It was also located in an alley, and it was a great deal (about $8 for the bowl). Japan is great… I would love to go back and spend more time outside Tokyo, but there are so many wonderful places in the world it’s hard to justidy going back to places you’ve already been!
i love ramen and we’re glad that we have found a new japanese restaurant here in San Diego that comes close to the real thing!
Tantanmen is my ABSOLUTE FAVE bowl of ramen. Sigh. You’re totally making me homesick!!
What timing. I just ate a bowl of ramen (shoyu broth) tonight. It was tasty, but it didn’t look half as good as the one in your photo. Yum!
My childhood best friend is here visiting from Japan and telling me about the wonderful noodle bars in Japan, and how cheap they are. Can’t wait to go!
OMG I love ramen! My favorite spot in NY is Ippudo and they have the best pork broth ever. If I’m ever in your neck of the woods, I’ll have to check out this place.
I’m coming down with a cold today too and this ramen sounds like the perfect get well soup! Mmmmmmm good.
Love this little Japanese ‘mall’ — so many great little eateries to choose from! The Korean place is great, too.
Excellent that I got the amazing Japanese recipe. A Japanese food are very delicious, healthy and not contain much calories which is good for health.