Ramen-ya — Restaurant in Saifi

I was initially excited to try RamenYa after seeing their vibrant promotion on Instagram, which sparked my interest in authentic Asian cuisine. I decided to order the Shoyu Ramen with Pork Belly (Sha-Chu), anticipating a flavorful experience. Unfortunately, my visit fell far short of expectations.

To begin, the dish’s visual presentation was a huge letdown. The image shown on the app looked vibrant and appealing, but what I received was nothing like it. This initial disappointment only deepened when I noticed the overwhelming, unpleasant smell of the dish, which set a poor tone for the meal.

The most significant issue, however, was with the pork belly—specifically the Sha-Chu. As someone who appreciates traditional Asian culinary techniques, I can confidently say that the pork belly I received was far from authentic. True Sha-Chu is a carefully prepared, marinated pork belly that is slow-braised to achieve tenderness and deep flavor. The traditional method involves marinating the pork in a soy-based mixture with sake, mirin, and sugar, followed by slow braising, allowing the meat to absorb the flavors while becoming tender and juicy. This process results in a rich, soft texture and a glossy finish.

The pork I received, however, was a far cry from this. It was thinly sliced, overcooked, and shockingly chewy—more like a tough piece of wood than the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness I had anticipated. It was clear that the pork had been improperly prepared, likely fried and boiled, which stripped away its natural tenderness. This preparation method ruined the dish, as the pork was neither marinated nor braised, leaving it tough and unappetizing. This deviated entirely from the traditional technique of marinated searing followed by braising, which is what the dish requires.

I would strongly recommend that the owner and Executive Chef taste the dish themselves to assess the quality of the broth and pork belly. If they did, I believe they would find the taste and texture unacceptable for a dish that should highlight quality ingredients and expert preparation.

In conclusion, my experience at RamenYa was disappointing. Despite the restaurant's enticing promotion, the meal fell far below the expectations set by their advertising. I hope this feedback encourages the restaurant to refine their techniques and improve the overall quality of...

I’ve wanted to try Ramen- ya ever since I saw its instagram page and after a long heavy and tiring day at work, we decided to reward ourselves with Ramen

Being the Japanese freak that I am, I was looking forward to the experience as it seemed their recipes and preparation were pretty authentic

The decoration / style was semi-traditianal and very cozy (although very small and tight; it was comfortable)

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very friendly waitress who seated us quickly She was very patient and helpful as well

We ordered: Chicken Kara-Age Shoyu Ramen (brisket) Seafood tanmen Sweet Miso Ramen Japanese Beer

we were served very fast. Starting off with the Chicken Kara-Age: never have I had such tender fried chicken, a zest of lemon and a drop of mayo later, no piece was left untouched

The presentation of the bowls were perfect: appetizing and beautiful HUGE traditional looking bowls My order was the Shoyu Ramen: an actual Japanese looking bowl of ramen with the tastiest broth; I particularly loved the spring onions However, There was a funny taste in one of the ingredients which I think was the bamboo shoots (they were bitter and had a weird smell)

The Japanese beer was very tasty, it had a sort of fruity and light taste.

I want to go back, maybe try rice this around I would actually love it if you added “Omurice” to the menu 🙈

Thank you for the amazing service and wonderful...

The place is quite small (just like the surrounding shops and restaurants in this area), and feature a simple yet elegant and artistic wall decoration reminiscent of Asian culture, with a vitrine showcasing extremely realistic inedible replicas of menu items. The menu is minimal but well thought out, and features a good amount of appetizers and dishes of which the majority contain pork as a main ingredient. However, you obviously have the option to choose to remove the pork from the ramen dish you would like to order and still enjoy a wide variety of flavors with impressively tasty ingredient combinations. From a distinctive soy sauce saltiness to a very sweet ramen dish, the menu has something for each taste. Ramen is served in beautifully painted bowls with beautiful traditional east-asian cutlery. You are offered an apron-like chest-covering napkin, which I recommend using since the ramen dishes contain amounts of sauce, and you surely could avoid staining your clothes while using the chopsticks. Ramen-ya surely is a must try asian restaurant offering unique flavors originating from far away from traditional lebanese food, at quite reasonable prices (around $35 for two dishes and drinks). The table and seating settings make this restaurant a really nice place for going on dates or eating out with a small...