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Traditional Ramen That’s Oh, So Good

Columns Lite Bites

September 16, 2012

Story By: Yu Shing Ting | Photos by: Leah Friel

Osaka Ramen celebrates its one-year anniversary this month with a special offer of four-piece Salt & Pepper Shrimp for only $2 (with purchase of a regular meal, from now through Sept. 30).

Located at the Pearl Kai Shopping Center in Aiea, owners Michelle Huang and Zhen Wei Lin love to eat Japanese noodles and wanted to give people a place to enjoy traditional ramen.

“The secret to our ramen is the soup base,” says Huang. “We use recipes from Japan. Our Tonkotsu Ramen ($7.25) has a homemade pork soup base that is cooked for about eight hours so you can really taste the pork flavor. And our Miso Ramen ($6.50) is made with a homemade soup base and miso sauce from Japan, so the flavor is miso and it tastes good.”

Also popular are Salt & Pepper Shrimp with Charsiu Fried Rice ($9.50), Spicy Tan Tan Ramen ($7.50) and Chicken Katsu Ramen Combo ($8.95), which consists of mini miso ramen, chicken katsu on the side, charsiu fried rice and four-piece homemade gyoza filled with pork and mixed vegetables. For added flavor, sprinkle some freshly crushed chili garlic (available at each table) on your noodles or gyoza sauce.

The menu is categorized by ramen, curry, fried noodles, cold soba and udon, appetizers, combo meals, udon and spicy ramen. In addition to great taste, Osaka Ramen also is known for its great prices. The Vegetable Ramen, Wonton Ramen, Shoyu Ramen, Miso Ramen, Gyoza Ramen, Charsiu Ramen and Mabo Tofu Ramen are all priced at $6.50. Almost all combo meals are $8.95, and all curry combo plates are $9.25.

Also, from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, get four pieces of gyoza free with the purchase of a regular meal; and from 5 p.m. to closing there’s a happy hour drink special of $2 beer (Heineken, Budweiser, Kirin, Bud Light, Bud Light Lime and Bud Light Platinum).

Everything on the menu is available for takeout, and there’s plenty of free parking available.

“The flavor of our ramen is the same as in Japan,” adds Huang. “So many people like it. If you like ramen, come and try it. It’s good.”

Osaka Ramen

Pearl Kai Shopping Center
98-199 Kamehameha Hwy. #B9, Aiea
488.8836
Sunday through Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

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