Tosh’s Ramen-Holladay — Restaurant in Holladay

I honestly have no idea why some of these people are rating below five stars. Tosh does the basics and he does them /well/. I've had ramen all over Salt Lake and in California and Tosh's is remarkable--consistent, delicious, and good small-dining ambiance. Having tried everything on the menu more than a few times (downtown), I was pleasantly surprised to see an expanded menu at the Holladay location! The takoyaki was better than what I was served at Daikokuya in Los Angeles--not too soft, slightly crisp, wonderful texture with the octopus, very savory.

Karai was excellent as usual; it's had more umami in the past (the pork wasn't as flavorful this time around), but the noodles, broth, menma, and soft boiled egg were exactly on par. I'll definitely be back for katsudon and karaage (some of my favorite non-ramen comfort food). They also have vegetable curry rice and grilled ice cream and a fleshed out kid's menu!

The space is pretty fun. It's still pretty bare bones compared to, let's say, Jinya. However, it's much bigger on the inside--almost twice the size of the downtown location, and twice as 'fancy'. The music was classical Chinese and Japanese love songs (compared to pop and dance downtown, which I also love) and the servers were more 'put together' in their uniforms. The signage outside could be more streamlined (although the bubbly letters forming 'Tosh's' are very cute) but the overall image, taste, and service are close in tone to the flagship on State. (Thanks Elena and Alfredo!)

(Jinya might have better ambiance, but Tosh has better food. Much, much better.)

In other words, ignore the reviews complaining about hours (contact the owner, no point in leaving a one star review), a mistaken tip (? Seriously? Your bill was $11 and you're complaining about $15? Did you forget to tip? Did your $13 look like a $15? Contact the owner/shop), not enough selection (what in the world are you looking for? Spicy chicken ramen? Go to Jinya), or plain nonsense like 'not great service' with no information (let the owner know at that point in time).

Tosh only suffers from not being phenomenal 100% of the time. Consistency is key. Nevertheless, having been to Tosh's practically since they've opened, I can say that more often than not, I've loved my experience. It's only been a few times I've only 'liked' it.

Still the best value in town aside...

Went for lunch. Got the katsudon rice bowl and karai ramen. First of all, the restaurant allows non-service animals in the restaurant? Okay, I guess people with animal allergies can just...deal? I'm cool with service animals but this dog wasnt wearing any vest to identify it as such and was jumping on people (a big no no for service animals), so it clearly wasn't one.

I wish that was the only issue I had, since I had such high hopes for this place. However, the egg in the ramen had pieces of it already missing when it was served, was overcooked, and I'm shocked that this wasn't the standard soft boiled egg that was brined in soy sauce. But okay, the ramen was...okay. Not worth the $15 price tag, but okay.

Then the katsudon my wife got was...bad. Just bad. I've attached the picture advertised on their menu and a photo of what we actually got. I don't recall the menu photo having overcooked, rubbery eggs slapped on top haphazardly - making the pork cutlet soggy from the bad tasting egg. And let's talk about the the pork. I get that a big mac in the ad is different than the big mac in real life, but if you show glistening, white meat in the menu, I would hope it didn't both look and taste like the mystery meat pucks from an elementary school cafeteria.

Considering this whole meal set us back $40, I have to say: not impressed.

What I'm also saddened and upset by was the fact that there was only one person operating everything in the store. This person was the server, host, busser, AND COOK. Seriously? Front of the house and back of the house should not be crossing paths, and for good reason. You can sometimes get away with that in a mom n pop restaurant, but this isn't trying to be one. If you wanna put on the image of a higher end restaurant, then hire an actual chef to free up the front...

Tosha Ramen, a petite yet charming quick ramen bar, welcomed us into its cozy embrace. Within its compact walls, an ambiance of simplicity prevailed. The menu, a well-crafted assortment, catered to our tastes, promising a satisfying experience.

My culinary voyage led me to the seafood ramen, a dish that didn't disappoint, although my wife's choice, the curry ramen, stole the spotlight. The flavors danced, and her dish emerged as a triumph, its taste resonating like a culinary symphony.

Yet, amidst these culinary delights, a minor hiccup surfaced. Our server, eager but slightly overzealous, brought forth the bill prematurely, not minding our ongoing meal. Three follow-up inquiries, though well-intentioned, underscored a sense of haste that contrasted the unhurried ambiance. The absence of rush in the establishment's atmosphere was replaced by a hint of urgency.

Nonetheless, these minor hiccups aside, our visit to Tosha Ramen painted a picture of flavors and comfort. In the compactness of the space, taste prevailed, with each dish representing a canvas of creativity. The blending of textures, flavors, and the camaraderie of dining surrounded us, offering a tale...