tonkotsu v bonedaddies

Sometimes after work, when both OH and I can't be bothered to cook, we eat out. We have our favourite places but lately over the past year we seem to have been choosing Japanese ramen more than anything else.

In the world of cheap eats, ramen is definitely a hearty contender. Its wholesome, filling and extremely delicious.

There are two ramen places in Soho which come to mind that are very popular with the London crowd. Both have queues snaking out of the door during peak times and both have a similar menu of a very limited number of main noodle soup dishes of three to four and a small selection of starters/sides.

The first place is Tonkotsu at 63 Dean St. Its small with an industrial stripped back interior which is basic but effective. In the window is the kitchen where the famous tonkotsu broth is made. (Tonkotsu  by the way is a ramen soup made from pork bones that are boiled for anything from 18 to 24 hours. The resulting broth/soup is creamy and delicious).

Tonkotsu the restaurant was opened by two men who saw a niche in the London market for a good ramen place. Recently they have also started to make their own noodles in-house using a traditional noodle making machine imported from Japan.

The second place is called Bone Daddies and was started by a chef that once worked at Nobu, the famous Japanese eaterie. Here the atmosphere is very different, the staff and the customers seem to be young twentysomethings who have the time to queue and the disposable income to spend. There is super cool music in the background that almost makes you believe you are in a club surrounded by the beautiful people rather than just eating a simple bowl of noodles. Tonkotsu on the other hand seems to tailor towards the quieter and more mature crowd.

Now down to the food. For me the best tonkotsu is from Tonkotsu. The broth is more flavoursome and creamy. Do not get me wrong about Bone Daddies though as they also do a very good tonkotsu but the other place has a far more superior soup and noodles concoction. However for side dishes/starters Bonedaddies were better in terms of taste and choice.




Tonkotsu Ramen from Bonedaddies

Tonkotsu Ramen from Tonkotsu



 

 

For me I also like the simplicity Tonkotsu offers in its stripped back interior and more laid back, slightly less unpretentious atmosphere because at the end of the day you cant get anymore humble than a simple bowl of soupy noodles.