Justin N.
Yelp
Man, that is some good goddamn ramen. The broth is solid and measures up to the hype. I think that's what they're known for and really, what good is ramen unless the broth is on point? I went for the Yuzu Sesame Ramen, and added a Roasted Miso Avocado Roll to round it out. Tasty, satisfying, and rich. All of it. The service was friendly and even though we came on a Saturday night, we got a table in 15 minutes which is impressive considering how small the shop is. Good food, a good crew, an overall good time.
It's good. Really good, even. But I'm not sold on it being extra-fucking-phenomenal just yet.
The smoke over the top is a fun trick. But in the end, I think it took away from some of the other players in the bowl. I enjoy smokey foods and drinks (Hello Mezcal and Laphroaig!) But in this case, the lingering smoke flavor dominated. I ordered the Yuzu Sesame because I LOVE yuzu. I make my own yuzu kosho, I keep dried organic yuzu peel on my spice rack, I drink yuzu sparkling water daily. My yuzu ramen, though? I couldn't find the yuzu flavor anywhere. My wife got the same ramen, without the smoke top, and hers didn't have much yuzu taste to it either. If a restaurant is going to have a yuzu flavored ANYTHING, I want to get that citrus-floral pop strong and up front.
Also, it's a slight bummer that they don't have beer or wine available. I get it, those licenses are a pain. But as I understand it, beer/wine is much easier to manage than hard liquor. I like a sake flight when I'm getting ramen. Or a crisp beer. It's not a dealbreaker, but when a restaurant is open until 10 or 11 PM, it's nice to have that option.
Look, I'm a fan. I like it. I need to do come back and try another flavor. Red Hot Miso, maybe. Or Truffle Salt. But I swear, if I get "Truffle Salt" and all I taste is smoke... Like I said though, I love the broth, and the noodles were perfect. Shoutout for being 100% vegan. It's sexy food in a trendy ramen shop, and I think people overall are going to love it. I still think Ramen Hood is the best vegan ramen in the LA area, though..
Pro tip: There's a bar in the same strip mall, probably 50 feet from their door to Redwhite's. We were able to grab a glass of wine there while waiting for our table. It's not the same as sipping sake in between delectable slurps of ramen, but it worked out well.
I'll see you soon for round two, Redwhite. Let's see what else you've got.