Tensai Ramen Eindhoven — Restaurant in Eindhoven

Having had wonderful experiences visiting the Rotterdam restaurant several times, I was overjoyed to find out Tensai just opened a restaurant in Eindhoven. I quickly hopped onto my bicycle to find out if the place lives up to its name.

Usually when visiting a ramen place that serves tonkotsu for the first time, I opt for tonkotsu as it seems like a good quality test of their broth making technique. So I ordered a small portion of the regular chicken kara-age and a black tonkotsu ramen.

The kara-age was cooked to perfection - the highly satisfying crunch that Asian deep frying techniques have perfected over the years, and super tender and moist chicken meat. The seasoning was good, but not exceptional.

Then came the center piece: black tonkotsu ramen. It looked very familiar. Exactly the presentation I'm used to from Tensai Rotterdam. That was a good sign, but was it just looks, or was the quality of the broth and noodles equally good? I was about to find out. Teaser: it did and it didn't. Read along to explore Tensai Eindhoven's tonkotsu ramen with me. A first sip of broth and a sigh of relief. It had the wonderful mouth filming richness of a true, highly gelatinous tonkotsu that is only achieved by cooking collagen-rich pieces of pork for an extended period of time. The level of umami was heart warming and I couldn't have asked for a more hearty broth on this slightly hung over, rainy Sunday. However, I did miss something. That something was salt. A great tonkotsu broth should be so salty that it's on the edge of almost being too salty. It should make you yearn for more because of its saltiness. This tonkotsu didn't have that. The menu says that if something is not salty of spicy enough they can fix it, and there are salt shakers on the tables. Perhaps it is a conscious decision to keep the broth less salty and allow people to season it to taste, but personally I feel it shouldn't be like that. Then I had my first bite of noodle. And a bite indeed they had. I understand the tactic of slightly undercooking the noodles so that they don't become soggy in the hot broth, and keep that delicious bite that the homemade Tensai noodles are famous for. But in this case they overdid it, or I should say underdid it. The noodles were cooked just a few seconds too short to my taste, such that they were at the right doneness only when the bowl was nearly finished. I critique these things with an open mind: they aren't major flaws in the recipe or cooking technique, but feel like timings that are slightly off and a missing finishing touch. That's OK for a restaurant that has only been open for a few days in my opinion. They do however result in a tonkotsu that is of great quality, but leaves for some very small, yet very important improvements. On a positive note, the toppings were exquisite. I have never been to a ramen shop where the eggs are so consistently, so perfect. The charred pork was soft and flavorful. The other toppings were correct and in the right proportions.

The service was great: the girl who served me was very kind and thoughtful, always on time even though she was obviously very busy, and gave a genuine smile. She deserves a 10/10.

All in all a very good first experience at Tensai Eindhoven. I'm looking forward to my next visit and to updating my...

Today was our family outing after watching a movie. My eldest son recommended this new ramen place which he likes. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. However, it took quite some time around 20++ minutes for the waitress to come over to take our order. My expectation is pretty high when it comes to food. We ordered 2 bowls of Black Tonkotsu Ramen, one bowl of Tonkotsu Rome, one bowl of Kárashibi miso Ramen and one bowl of Tori miso Ramen. All look pretty presentable. I had the Tori miso ramen and my first taste was “hmmm” salty and slimy. The more I ate, the more I felt like vomiting. Then, I tried to taste the other bowls Black Tonkutsu and Tonkutsu. The soup base is better and the ramen noodles taste good. Chasu is dried and not so much of taste... A bit plain. Overall ok but not that great and better than the Tori miso ramen. I have not tasted the Karashini Ramen but my son likes it. Overall the ramen is not that great. It can be improved. With regards to the service, I believe it can be improved too. Please do not immediately collect the bowls if not everyone from the table has finished eating. It is rude to some other cultures. Probably give the customer some time to finish and if everyone has done eating, please ask before you collect the bowls. When the server immediately collects the bowls, the customer could trigger a negative message. It may looks like the restaurant wants the customer to get out as fast as possible. This...

This restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The tantan ramen features a rich and spicy broth, well cooked noodles, and a variety of toppings that create a harmonious blend of flavors. The ika geso age (fried squid tentacles) is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making it a delightful appetizer. Additionally, the okonomiyaki sticks provide a unique twist on the traditional Japanese savory pancake, offering a convenient and tasty snack. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, with decor that reflects traditional Japanese aesthetics. The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring a pleasant dining experience. However, the restaurant does not offer a proper salad, rice, or other main courses besides ramen. The variety is also limited. While the ramen is good, it is not unique compared to other ramen...