OSAKA ENGINE RAMEN — Restaurant in Osaka

One of the more interesting reviews I've contemplated in a while, one that's not easily quantifiable by number of stars on Google. So I'll try to be as objective as possible.

I've never heard of Engine Ramen before stepping in and reading their story on the menu. It was only then that I realized the niche nature of their offering. Their mission is to provide gluten-free and vegan versions of ramen to customers with specific dietary requirements, of which I am not one. If you, like me, are a devourer and purveyor of various forms of authentic Japanese ramen, this is very likely not for you, as it wasn't for me.

As a package however, I found the effort and conviction admirable. The place looked really hip, the service was emmaculate. Yes, it caters to foreigners and I understand why - few if any Japanese will appreciate this, and their ratings would be eviscerated. In fact, I didn't even realize they do not allow locals in - very very bold of them, and I salute their bravery.

Now on to the actual food objectively, the above notwithstanding. Gluten-free and vegan don't have to taste 'bad', I know as I've had good versions of those and I do enjoy the occassional clean, healthier fare. They've captured freshness with good, crunchy ingredients that I know would cater well to many palates. But I do think there's room for improvement.

I ordered the black version but didn't taste any garlic, in fact the broth tasted almost sweet and corn-like. A splash of kemp vinegar did improve it, giving it more tang and umami. The noodles could've been springier - when coated with the thick frothy broth, it veered towards a soggy mouthfeel. I think if they got the noodles and broth right, it could work really well as an alternative ramen. As it was, it fell short.

Secondly, a lot of effort seems to have been put into the setup of the restaurant, I think a more varied menu could probably do it justice in future. There's so much one can do with meatless or gluten-free produce in Japanese style. I believe then, that their identity could be clearer and unmistakable. But I know nothing of running restaurants except that it always pays to be focused, so I digress.

Will I be back? No, it's not for me. So do yourself a favor and research before visiting. Do I appreciate what they're trying to do and the fact that this works for many people? Yes.

So it's overall ~3 stars for me (which isn't necessarily a bad rating), but upticked to 4 stars for all the unfair reviews received from people who did not understand or walked in unaware. This goes back to my point on identity. I'd market it 'alternative ramen' from the start, to alleviate the misconceptions and put the vision...

This restaurant is, unfortunately, the first I’ve encountered in Japan that feels genuinely discriminatory. Despite being a Japanese restaurant, it explicitly prohibits Japanese customers. The reason given is that the staff is currently undergoing English training, but most restaurants in Japan hire staff who can already communicate in English if that’s a priority.

After trying the ramen, I suspect there might be another reason for this policy. It felt like an attempt to exploit foreign customers who might not be as familiar with what quality ramen should taste like. The ramen itself was disappointing. For the price of 2,400 yen, I expected something exceptional, but the quality felt closer to a 1,500 yen bowl at best. It’s clear that more effort went into the restaurant’s exterior, designed to impress tourists, rather than into the quality of the food.

There are many other places in Japan that offer authentic hospitality and genuinely delicious food, welcoming all customers regardless of nationality. If you’re looking for a true Japanese dining experience, I recommend choosing one of those instead.

Postscript: As can be seen from other low-rated reviews as well, customers are simply expressing their honest opinions, yet the responses are mostly defensive, with no visible effort toward improvement. A review is a reflection of one’s personal experience, and everyone has the right to share their honest impressions.

The fact that so much attention is paid to ratings suggests that the business is more focused on appearances and numbers, rather than providing truly customer-centered service, which should be the top priority. What should be done first is NOT TO REQUEST A RE-EVALUATION, but TO SINCERELY TAKE THE FEEDBACK from low-rated reviews to heart and work on meaningful improvements.

In particular, if it is true that services are being refused to Japanese customers, this constitutes clear discrimination. Treating people differently based on nationality is unacceptable and goes against international standards of fairness...

The food tasted extremely bad. If you want to eat ramen, don't come here. The "authentic" written on the menu seemed very disingenuous as in their replies, ENGINE says that they move AWAY from authentic ramen methods because they use "processed" ingredients. All food is processed unless you ripped it out of the ground and washed it yourself, harvested the seeds etc. This is a silly label to use. Also, the "unhealthy processed" ingredients you are proud not to serve do not even have medical evidence. MSG being harmful is currently a conspiracy theory, look on any official food and drugs quality control website. Red meat is a proven carcinogen and you use pork. They claim to not let in Japanese customers because they "are not in a position to serve them dietary restricted foods", but then why not let them decide that for themselves, why force them away with a sign? You don't want to let them in because your average star rating would be 1. Saying you do not use soy sauce because it has gluten but needing customers to specify ordering gluten free noodles is pointless, because you are just reducing the gluten content, not making the food fully gluten free. Lastly, saying that Japanese people cannot be let in because they are not spiritually ready to witness food with dietary restrictions is very close minded and infantalizing to the Japanese. Do you think they will be appalled if they see an allergen list on the wall? They can make up their mind on their own. Is it not better to expose them to it so that they can be open-minded? I understand the struggles of having a business in a harsh economy and I sympathize with you, however, you made a business where Americans come to Japan to enter...