Hanabi Ramen Carrollton — Restaurant in Carrollton

This place is just ok.

The vegetable ramen was undersalted, so it didn't have much flavor. A frozen vegetarian Japanese brand 'salt' flavored ramen packet would be better.

Fried oysters (kaki furai) were better. Perhaps, a bit overcooked, but it was fine. Served with a typical Japanese Bulldog brand vegetable sauce (just a standard condiment from the bottle like ketchup if you don't know). For some reason, they only gave a tiny bit of shaved raw cabbage. Usually, they give a lot (at least in Japan) so that it's salad to be eaten with the Bulldog sauce. Here it was more like a garnish. Maybe Americans don't like raw cabbage? I don't know.

The okonomiyaki was a bit weird. It has seafood in it. It was a bit undercooked so that it was mushy inside so that it turned out more like a flat takoyaki (which they also happen to serve here). Additionally, they really poured on the Bulldog sauce and mayonnaise so that it completely covered the top of okonomiyaki as if it was frosting on a cake. The Japanese way would be much lighter on the sauce - a drizzle - so that you could still taste the other ingredients. Hanabi's heavy saucing ends up hiding the rest. Maybe this is too fine a point, but it tasted and looked like they used the same Bulldog sauce as with the fried oysters. However, Japanese folks typically use a different condiment in a bottle that is for okonomiyaki – it's sweeter and less vinegary. However, the two sauces are somewhat similar, and I've used Bulldog sauce for okonomiyaki at home when I've run out of the usual. So, I can see where they are coming from. Conclusion: it's edible overall, but just a bit wrong.

The fried tofu was good. I could eat it again. The sauce was nicely done.

Also, ordered the curry. I didn't taste it myself. But, the children said it was good. My spouse said it was just ok.

Maybe the meat-based ramen is better? Don't know.

Anyway, I'd probably try another place than repeating...

Update: 2/17/2024

Happy to report that something good changed. I ordered the gyudon and the rice was perfect. Also ordered the agedashi tofu and it was amazing again! The portion was also bigger than normal so that was a huge plus!! Same goes for the karagge. Chef must have been in a good mood!

Update:

Not happy to write this.

Last time I went here with my husband, I ordered my favorite dish the Tendon.

But I was disappointed this time. It was lacking. Hanabi has either changed the rice, or their cooking method. The rice was over cooked and not coated in the dashi they usually use. I had to ask for more Dashi. But that didn’t help either. The previous rice was glossy and just bursting with umami flavor!

Just last night I had wanted to visit Hanabi again and try my other favorite dish here. Their Agedashi Tofu. Even that has changed. It was really just fried tofu with the smallest amount of dashi.

I’ve noticed even their portions of ramen is smaller.

So I’m not sure if the economy is effecting the recipes themselves, or causing Hanabi to purchase lower grade ingredients, but I would much rather just pay more for a better dish. —

Just tried the curry ramen here and it is delicious! Still loving their shrimp tendon as well!

So, i'm sure i've made a review for Hanabi's ramen before. But, this review is for their new Shrimp Tempura Don. My god this is the best shrimp tempura i have ever had!! It is SO crunchy and delicious. The delicate sauce they drizzle over the rice is also amazing. This dish with a sapporo beer on draft is a match made in heaven. Great addition...

I posted 5 starts a while back but just want to edit for a semi-recent experience. We’ve eaten here plenty of times and the food is still top notch.

Not sure if it just happened to be that day but just had a bad experience with refilling water. Waitress said she’d do it. Ok. Never came back. Another waiter walked by a few times for his tables. Refilled one tables drinks. Ours are still empty. Owner walks by maybe twice to check on other tables. Cups remain empty. Time passes by and our waitress has never popped back up. I’m pretty furious. Flag down a waiter to say why. Eventually get our water from that waiter, not our waitress. She only comes by to drop off the check and say something that wasn’t an apology which is pretty infuriating. Supposedly she was working on to go orders according to another waiter. I feel like it’s an excuse. Owner eventually comes to apologize. Offers something for next time we show up but how would you do that unless your memory is great since we don’t eat there all the time? FYI, it wasn’t busy. Anyways. Food is still fantastic and near perfect though my fiancée’s chasu was cold. I know the egg normally is but whatever.

Rant summary, one day of bad service ruins normally great experience and makes me question the next...