Mike L.
Yelp
Considering how many ramen restaurants have come and gone in SF (and the Bay Area as a whole), there have been a fair number of places that have focused on different styles of ramen. Whether it be tsukemen, tori paitan, or hakata ramen, just to name a few, there have been so many varieties to discover. Yet, before Ushi Taro came along, no one had specialized in beef ramen before, which is actually super surprising. Then again, if it was easy, everybody would do it and I can only imagine how hard it was to put bowls of ramen that taste this good!
On the surface, Ushi Taro looks rather unassuming. The place isn't all that large, though they do a good job of maximizing seating in the place, and the menu isn't very extensive. That being said, just about everything they have to offer is super intriguing. Besides just sounding delicious, every dish (save for the vegan and vegetarian options) incorporates beef in some way, whether it be part of the soup broths, added into dishes, as sides (like roasted bone marrow!), or as the main protein in reimagined versions of traditional staples, like beef karaage and tantanmen. In short, there's no shortage of ways for beef lovers to be satisfied!
-- BEEF GYOZA - Pan Fried Beef Dumplings Served with Spicy Soy, Sesame Oil...$9
While not the most unique recreation with beef, this was no less tasty. The skirt (crust) on this was more like a gown (it's huge), the skins were tender, and I liked the filling - it's not as juicy as pork gyoza, but still quite flavorful.
-- TRADITIONAL PAITAN RAMEN - Beef Bone Broth Cooked with Kelp, Shaved Bonito, and Mushrooms, Topped with Beef Filet, Oyster Mushrooms, Onsen Egg, and Truffle...$16
Not sure if this is their "signature" ramen, but it should - it's terrific! The broth was rich yet not heavy, the slices of beef were tender, the mushrooms and egg were delicious, and I loved the umami from the truffle. Also, I've had this both with and without garlic oil and it's definitely better with.
-- BEEF KARAAGE - Marinated Beef Tenderloin, Lightly Coated in Starch, Fried...$9
This was the starter I was most curious about, if only because I'd never seen beef karaage before. Although I wish the batter had been thicker, the chunks of beef were surprisingly juicy! Chicken karaage is still better, but I'd happily get this again!
-- GYUDON - Stir-fried Beef Filet, Oyster Mushrooms, Red Onion, and Egg with side of Beef Broth...$16
This wasn't quite what I expected (the sauce is really red), but this was still pretty solid. The beef was moist, the mushrooms had a nice bite, and the sauce was flavorful with a slight kick.
-- BONE MARROW...$10
Added this to my Gyudon, but didn't think it would come IN the Gyudon. Still, this was great. Not only was the piece huge with a lot of yield, but I liked how it was only lightly seasoned, which let all of the marrow shine on its own.
-- AGEDASHI TOFU - Deep Fried Soft Tofu Coated with Potato Starch with Dipping Sauce...$7
For the most part, this was great! The batter was so crispy and not all that thick while the tofu itself was Each piece was so crispy not heavily battered while the tofu was hot and pillowy soft. As for how it tasted, there's a lot of white pepper, but I personally didn't mind.
-- TANTANMEN - Beef Bone Broth Made with Chili Oil and Spicy Paste Topped with Sauteed Minced Beef and White Onion, Onsen Egg, and Greens...$16
While not as good as my favorite, traditional tantanmen, this isn't all that far behind. The broth was awesome (the touch of heat was perfect) and I really liked the minced beef, which wasn't the least bit oily. I just wish there were more noodles to eat the meat and broth with.
While the food at Ushi Taro has been consistently good across all of my visits, I've found service to be a little uneven. The first time I was here, the worker was nice, but disappeared until it came time for the bill. The second, the server barely said anything to us, but came by often and was super quick with everything. The last few times, the workers were both ridiculously nice and attentive. That said, I never expect much beyond the basics (not rude, timely, efficient), so those first two visits were far from awful while the rest have been very much appreciated; just thought it was interesting how varied my visits have been. Plus, even if those last few visits were more like the first time, it wouldn't matter - Ushi Taro's beef centric offerings are good enough that it wouldn't deter me from coming back for more!