Totto Ramen
Ramen restaurant · Somerville ·
Chicken broth ramen with thin noodles and spicy sesame oil
Chicken broth ramen with thin noodles and spicy sesame oil
"Totto Ramen is a small chain with locations in Boston, New York, and Taiwan. We should feel privileged to be included in such an exclusive club, because this is some good, chicken-broth ramen with thin but still chewy noodles. You’re obviously coming to this casual, mid-sized spot with anime murals on the wall for the ramen first and foremost, but if you want something other than noodles, the fried octopus cakes are a good bet." - dan secatore
"It should be illegal to call those little plastic bags of dehydrated noodles you heat up in your microwave ramen, especially compared to the delicious, chicken broth bowls with tender pork, spicy sesame oil, and soft eggs you get at Totto. Most of the bowls are around $17 and there’s a good menu of small plates to go along with them at this casual spot with anime murals on the wall, so come with some friends for an affordable night out." - dan secatore
"Totto Ramen opened in the summer of 2010, right in the heat of what we'll call "The Great Ramen Awakening." First we had Momofuku, then we had Ippudo, then came Totto Ramen followed by about 20 other places, and now I'm pretty sure you can get tonkotsu lattes at Starbucks. Our initial review at the time had us singing the praises of Totto's arrival in Midtown West. Now we're here to update you with important news: It's still really f*cking good. If you aren't yet familiar, Totto's style of ramen lies somewhere in between the porky excessiveness of Ippudo and the basic, hangover curing magic of more traditional spots like Rai Rai Ken. It's a chicken-based broth as opposed to pork, and the noodles are thin. It all feels pretty authentic, and it's always satisfying—especially if you can hit it for lunch. But before you round up a crew from the office for some slurping, be aware that this location of Totto can be pretty packed. Waits for two are usually at least 45 minutes, and tables of three and four probably should not be attempted during peak meal hours. There is, however, frequent availability for a single stool at the bar, so dining solo will definitely give you an advantage in this situation. Find a book that you can pretend to be reading, and maybe someone will think you're interesting. Food Rundown Totto Chicken Paitan Ramen We love a big bowl of simmered pig, but the chicken broth here has a slightly different flavor, and it's delicious. The homemade noodles are also excellent, and we add an additional serving of pork just to be extra ridiculous. You should too. Totto Spicy Ramen The Chicken Paitan Ramen, but with some heat. We prefer this to the regular version, but know that it will definitely make you sweat. There is an "Extreme Spicy Ramen" as well, but you probably don't want to be reliving this meal for several days. Totto Miso Ramen An excellent miso ramen, if that's your scene. We prefer the other two options, but we did like the fact that the you can stir in as much miso as you like in this situation. Broiled Char Siu Pork The "house specialty" pork, this is what you'll find floating in your ramen, but on a plate and served with a yuzu mayonnaise. I guess this is Totto's answer to the pork bun? By no means does it suck, but we just don't feel it's a must order for your table. Stick to noodles and maybe some edamame." - Chris Stang
"Totto isn’t the best ramen in the city, but it’ll do the trick when you get that ramen craving that hits you roughly four times a week between November and March. The noodles are thin, the broth is chicken-based, and the spicy paitan with sesame oil is always a good call. There’s a small menu of decent appetizers too, but you’re coming to this casual spot with anime murals on the wall for the noodles." - Dan Secatore
"A New York City–based ramen shop that opened its first out-of-state location in Allston in May 2014, the small chain operates additional Greater Boston sites and planned a Dorchester outpost in the Boston South Bay development slated to open in January–February 2019. Known for a chicken-based broth and vegetarian options, the menu at the new location is expected to mirror existing spots while also showcasing local products such as beer from Dorchester Brewing Company. Partner Nghi Nguyen, who grew up in Dorchester and fondly recalls the old 88 market, says the expansion was driven by a desire to give back to the community." - Terrence Doyle
