TENMARU — Restaurant in London

I don't know why I haven't been here before, I pass it whenever I'm going to get my liquid gold espresso from Kiss the Hippo and I'm in the area fairly often enough, but I guess there are so many places to eat in central London, they all became a blur. I also tend to have an aversion to any eating place that sports a cuisine that I'm not well versed in, for fear of intimidation or maybe I just want to order the best thing possible. But if I go to a Japanese restuarant then, as a white British/Irish man who was raised on bangers and mash (a great comfort food of mine), I have absolutely no idea what to get and my mind starts spinning and I feel bad for not knowing enough about Japanese cuisine to even venture into the void of "other". However, sometimes it takes a special person to change your mind. (Woah, the phrase "change your mind" should be much less trivialised"). Thus, I was able to come to Tenmaru on the recommendation and with the company of said special person who makes me happy wherever I find myself so all the usual negative feelings are negated and I am willing to try food other than potatoes. You'll be pleased to know that these negative thoughts have now been permanently dispelled after such a lovely experience here. The food was yummy and enjoyed by me and said special person who is much more well-versed in the foods of this part of the world (East & South-East Asia). I ordered the Chicken Katsu curry which I recognised from Wagamamas. The staff served with a smile and were happy to be working at this establishment. More on this later (no, I'm not finished). Upon entry, the music playing in the background was rather fitting with the cuisine. I thought I might have heard some Radwimps, or something of that elk. I was impressed that, although the natural singing voices from these Japanese artists are rather squeaky scrapy and high for my liking, the indie-math-rock on show was very much my style and adding to my experience that evening. Transitions beckoned towards English-language indie-math-rock and soon enough I was able to recognise nearly all of the songs and I proceeded to have an even more excellent evening. I shazaamed songs not once but twice, TWICE in one evening, that's a good sign (one was just to confirm it was Mac Demarco). They even played a Tame Impala song that is an album track, as in it's not that super famous single everyone knows (mainstream indie), the one that starts kind of lo-fi and altogether sounds like PBJ tastes ("Disciples"). Staff were quick to react when I made a slight gesture with eye contact to request the bill, which always makes you feel valued. While paying the standard central-London-eating-out-fee, I took the opportunity to share my love of the playlist. My fellow fellow reciprocated and together the three of us struck the type of affinity that only comes from shared music tastes. Therefore, leaving the restaurant had a rather bittersweet feel and this will be the intrinsic driving force that brings me back here. If it weren't for the sertraline limiting my capacity for emotion, I probably would've teared a small tear while leaving. Instead, I danced out the door with said special person because, again, the playlist was fire. There was definitely a tear in the waiter's eye. See you soon my friend. Don't be intimidated by Japanese restaurants, because you may just hear that under-rated album track by Tame Impala...

Ramen was average at best (yes, I go to A LOT of ramen places - from Bristol to Manchester). I ordered the Tan Tan Men (which was supposed to be spicy - not only was it not that it lacked any real depth of flavour) when ordering no one asked how I’d like my noodles cooked as well. Gyoza’s were burnt and still sent out!! Again, I’ve had a lot better Gyozas for a lot less.

The staff working there seem like their Ramen - Bland. Two customers next to me were asked how their meals were when finished, I was not (I’ll let your mind wonder as to what the reason could be?) Only small grace was the gentlemen sat next to the loos saw me waiting patiently for the toilet and said I could used the universal toilet. (You take the small wins when everything else was poor). There’s literally better Ramen places around the corner, go there.

*update:

Thank you for your reply, I hope that a few of the above mentioned are addressed as I was very much looking forward to enjoying the ramen at Tenmaru, which in this instance was not the case.

“It seems that your ordered ramen (from the picture you uploaded) is NOT Tan Tan Men, it was Tori Paitan, which is chicken broth based ramen, and it is not spicy. Tori Paitan is very basic and subtle in comparison to Tan Tan Men that you thought you had, but it was not Tan Tan Men.”

This would make sense, however I DID ORDER THE TAN TAN MEN, which seems a fault with the staff again that sent out the wrong Ramen, fortunately I have no allergies or intolerances as this could have been a BIGGER issue for you...

I had the spicy chicken ramen.

Firstly and foremost, their broth is INSANELY good. The best chicken based broth I've had in London, possibly ever. Though I didn't get to choose the thickness of the noodles, they were perfect nonetheless. My only complaint is that the chicken was a bit flavourless. The texture and chewiness was perfect for ramen, but it could maybe do with a touch more flavour. I'm still rating the food a 5 because the broth more than makes up for that.

No big complaints about the service, it was all pretty quick. One thing I'd say is that the waiter should have called someone who could recommend a sake to drink if they weren't able to assist in that regard. For that you lose a star. I have high standards but I'm also easy to please :D

And finally the atmosphere, no complaints there but also nothing particularly special. It's a long spacious space, I like my ramen shops small and cosy. but I did appreciate being able to sit alone at the row of bar stools instead of a table.

But because they're new, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and award 5 stars overall. I will be back though... And my 5 stars are subject to change based on future visits, and there definitely will be future visits. That broth...