Allow me to regale you with a tale of taste and wonderment that can only be experienced at Tsujita Annex, my unequivocal favorite among the myriad ramen establishments I've had the pleasure of sampling. Nestled within its unassuming walls lies a culinary journey that has elevated my ramen expectations to unparalleled heights.
From the moment you step inside, the ambiance envelops you in a sense of authenticity and reverence for the art of ramen crafting. It's as if the very air is infused with the centuries-old dedication to this Japanese delight. But it's not just the ambience that captivates; it's the symphony of flavors that awaits within each bowl.
The ramen offerings at Tsujita Annex are nothing short of a gastronomic masterpiece. The broth, simmered to perfection with a complexity of flavors that tell a tale of time and patience, is the heart of this experience. Whether you opt for the rich, velvety embrace of tonkotsu or the harmonious blend of tsukemen, each slurp transports you to a realm where taste reigns supreme.
And let us not forget the noodles themselves, each strand seemingly handcrafted to achieve the perfect balance of texture and bite. Every bite is a revelation, a reminder that the pursuit of perfection in ramen is an art form that Tsujita Annex has truly mastered.
But what truly sets this establishment apart is its unwavering commitment to authenticity. The attention to detail, the adherence to tradition, and the refusal to compromise on quality all come together to create an experience that's not just a meal, but a celebration of culinary heritage.
Of course, as with any masterpiece, there are considerations to be made. The popularity of Tsujita Annex is a testament to its allure, but it also means that patience is often a prerequisite. Waiting for a table might be a test of endurance, but I assure you, it's a wait that's more than rewarded with each heavenly mouthful of ramen.
In conclusion, Tsujita Annex stands not just as a ramen haven, but as a testament to the intersection of tradition and taste. The flavors are a journey, the ambiance a journey, and the experience as a whole a journey that leaves an indelible mark on anyone fortunate enough to partake. If you're in search of ramen that transcends the ordinary and transports you to the realm of the extraordinary, Tsujita Annex is the destination your taste buds have been...
Read more1st of all my apologies for this rate, mainly it goes to the guy preparing the ramen not the restaurant, I don't know his name, didn't ask either . Yesterday my coworker and myself stepped out for lunch, and we decided to try ramen, this area is full of restaurants and other shops. And we decided to try this one, however there is another same restaurant across the street, which the difference I was told is the thickness of both, broth and noodles, I know because I asked to the waitress about the place, Im not gonna lie, the food was very good, service was great, the place is small, clean, with Naruto theme for those Naruto's fans. We were lucky that we didn't have to struggle to find parking nor time waiting to be seated, despite the lunch hour, mostly is busy. We got in, and the waitress guided us to seat at the counter, front of the kitchen, I scanned the QR, and order the food. Anyway my point to this whole thing is that, while we were waiting our ramen, I noticed that this kind of young guy cooking the ramen,and between smile-laug kept talking to his lady coworker the whole preparation process of orders while he has the food right in front of him and not wearing a face mask. To be honest I felt that was very gross, the reason is because how many of us, while we speak to someone, we notice that sprinkles of saliva come out of our mouth, Am i wrong?. Now imagine someone is cooking your food, for about 3 minutes or more, and without noticing, saliva sprinkles get in your soon to be eating lunch,. Can anyone imagine eating somebody else's secretion. This is my point, . If we were not seated in front of the kitchen I would have never realized that obviously. I know cooking areas are very hot , but at least if the cooker is going to talk the whole time please get him a face mask. Is nothing personal, just hygiene. Just wondering how many people were there before and after we were there. Good luck. And this might not be the only place it happens I bet there are many more. And again this is nothing personal, I'm just giving my opinion. Personally I would highly recommend the shop if wearing mask or not talking too much while preparing food. However everyone is welcome to give a shot. And I don't remember what I ordered, but is the one with dry noodle and the broth in a...
Read moreAs a Japanese native who lived in Tokyo for my entire childhood, I was excited to try this "Jiro-style" ramen. For those who don't know, Jiro style ramen is an extremely popular style of ramen, characterized by thick, heavy noodles, fatty broth, thick cut fatty pork, and loads of bean sprouts on top. Jiro style ramen is known for being extremely cheap (~$8), and you're able to customize the amount of meat, noodles, and vegetables for no additional cost.
I can begrudgingly understand the high cost of this ramen (~$14-$18) because its LA, and everything is expensive. However, for a place that advertises itself as an authentic Japanese ramen experience, I was left severely disappointed.
We waited over 1 hour for a table, which isn't uncommon. However, multiple parties were served ahead of us, and we were told to keep waiting outside until they were "ready" despite serving many other parties of 2 ahead of us. Once we were seated, service was minimal and straight to the point. No complaints once we got seated.
Secondly, the quality and consistency of the noodles was amazing. Firm and springy, just like in Japan. The broth on the other hand, was bad. Just straight up bad. Extremely salty and somehow citrusy(?), it was honestly undrinkable. I personally love a fatty, salty broth with lots of garlic, but this broth was really, really bad, especially when being compared to authentic Jiro style shops in Japan. The ramen egg was also overcooked, as were the bean sprouts.
Thirdly, the "large" noodle portion was hardly large. I easily finished my ramen in 5 minutes, and I was pretty full when I got there. ESPECIALLY when being compared to Japanese ramen shops who don't charge a penny for a larger portion of noodles, the price difference between medium and large was laughable. Also, my fiancee got the medium size, and the portions were literally the exact same.
Because Tsujita advertises itself as such an authentic experience, I drove 2.5 hours from San Diego just to try this ramen. 6+ hours and $40 later, I find myself at home, extremely disappointed. Two stars for great noodle quality, but bad service and terrible broth took away the last three stars. I'll stay searching for a truly authentic Jiro Ramen style resturant. But sadly, this is...
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