LeeLee C.
Yelp
First time coming to this location. When we were in the mall, there was always a line no matter when, so it was always not attractive for us to plan to try it. On a Labor Day morning, we decided to give it a try. It opens at 11am, so we planned to be there b/w 10:30-10:45 to get in the line. We arrived at 10:40 but still missed the first seating. We were told by the staff that the restaurant could seat 50 people. The first seating crowd got there about 10:30. And as we timed it, each round of dining takes about 30 minutes, so the shortest time spent on a Ramen Nagi experience would be at hour, no less.
The menu is the same as the Palo Alto one and I always go back to the Black King squid ink broth. I chose thin noodle this time just because it has eggs, otherwise, I feel that thick noodle probably fits the thick broth better
The seating is shared table, so we were seated at a big table with another family of 3 and a couple. Although they asked us if we would like any appetizers, we declined. It turns out to be an economical choice as there is no leftover pack out. As we just barely finished our bowls of noodle, I was pretty sure we would have a lot of left over had we added on more appetizers, maybe it was better for a bigger group.
The condiments are exceptionally good as I totally fell in love with their bean sprouts which were soaked in sesame oil and seasoned with salt and black pepper. I also like that they have a sesame seed grinder.
We ordered Black King, Red King (spicy) and the Original. The Black King is squid ink broth with grounded pork, think slices of cha siu and seaweed. I asked for extra garlic but it tasted more like dry garlic instead of the fresh ones, so there's no concern of stinky breath afterwards. The cha siu was slightly pink but cooked to perfection. I like to eat the toppings and broths and save the noodles to the last, despite this habit, the noodles cooked to normal texture were still not soggy. The Original King broth was good and not overly salty as i drank it with the mix of green onions and it provided a balanced palette.
After you finished eating, you pay at the cashier so the staff could clean up the table for the next diners. The whole process was smooth and efficient.
PS: This is somehow a family friendly restaurant but I saw a lot of toddlers and kiddos eating while staring at their parents' devices and they hardly chew. Lol...so much for a quick ramen place.