SoSoBa Phoenix — Restaurant in Phoenix

And with each visit this place never disappoints. Love this place but our previous history is always worth remembering.

I visited SoSoBa again in January 2020 and while I was still annoyed about my original experience, my 2nd turn was much better. The food and drinks are phenomenal and the staff I interacted with were friendly and kind. Maybe something changed but this place did a 180 on the customer service front. The review below was from my 1st experience.

Please note I did not try the food at SoSoBa but I really wanted to try the Ramen. However, my experience upon entering this establishment led me to not order any food and give SoSoBa a negative review.

How you define what an outside food or beverage is, will determine how you feel about this review. Is a plastic bottle or reusable bottle the same thing or different.

I carried with me a 1/2 empty bottle of water or should I say half full, specifically the Dasani brand. Upon placing it on the bar, I was told that it would not be allowed and I had 2 options, either throw it away or finish it outside. I took it outside but I was perturbed by this request because it is Arizona and water is life. Typically, an open bottle of water is denied at airports or major sporting events but regardless I complied but did voice my displeasure with my friend at the bar which was overheard by a staff member who attempted to address the situation. It was rationalized by the staff that Health code was strict and they needed to comply. Next to me was a gentleman who had just finished his meal and possessed a reusable bottle. He even requested his bottle get filled up with ice before his departure. I questioned why a reusable bottle of water was not considered outside food and beverage and was told it's the same policy. At this point I lost my appetite and now SoSoBa has a 1 star rating.

So for the readers at home I ask if there is a difference between a plastic bottle of water or reusable, specifically as it relates to outside food and beverage? I will note, I visited two other bar/restaurants shortly after this incident occurred and received no resistance from staff. I'm happy to apologize if I'm wrong and change this review but until such time this review stands. Perhaps it is based on the judgment of the staff and they seemed to have a better relationship with the gentleman with the reusable bottle. Perhaps if they knew I drive a Prius and hung dry my clothes, then they might forgive me for my plastic bottle faux pas. Personally, I think they were just doing their job as required by management but make exceptions for others which is unfair. A reusable bottle is still a bottle and allowing one customer to have it while denying another seems unfair to me. If there is a specific clause in the Health Code which allows or favors reusable items then I need to be made aware of this but as I see it,...

A Mirage of Flavor: The Disappointment of SoSoBa

There are places that transport you, where flavors awaken something deep within, and then there’s SoSoBa—a mirage in the desert, promising an oasis of bold, unforgettable tastes but delivering only a barren wasteland of disappointment.

Let’s start with the ramen broth—the very soul of any respectable bowl. Instead of a rich, umami-laden elixir, I was met with something so flat, so lifeless, that even the humble seasoning packet from instant noodles would have put up a better fight. It was as if the broth had given up before it even had a chance to exist—an uninspired, flavorless pool that left my taste buds stranded in mediocrity.

Then came the giant cheese ball—a culinary mirage, promising indulgence and decadence, only to crumble under the weight of its own dryness. I envisioned golden, crisp perfection, giving way to an eruption of molten, gooey cheese. Instead, I was served something that could only be described as the culinary equivalent of an Arizona summer—parched, unforgiving, and utterly lacking in moisture. The only thing giant about it was my disappointment.

And the calamari—what should have been a delicate, crispy delight was drowned, suffocated beneath an ocean of overly salty, syrupy soy sauce. The greens beneath it, instead of offering a fresh contrast, were overpowered by this tidal wave of seasoning, obliterating any hope of balance. The calamari itself? A distant echo, lost in a sea of excess.

But the true enigma of the night? The drink—a vision of beauty, a promise of escape, shimmering under the dim glow of expectation. It arrived like a mystical potion, crafted by unseen hands, luring me into a world where I believed I would taste something ethereal. But the first sip shattered the illusion. Instead of a perfect symphony of sweet and refreshing notes, I was met with confusion—a muddled concoction that couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Was it supposed to be tart? Smooth? A hint of citrus? A whisper of floral elegance? None of these elements emerged. Instead, it lingered on the tongue like an unresolved chord, a discordant melody that never found its harmony. A drink that looked like magic but tasted like a spell gone wrong.

SoSoBa had all the makings of a culinary adventure, but instead, it was a lesson in illusion—an experience where every dish, every sip, every expectation was met with nothing but an...

One evening I had a craving for ramen and unfortunately my regular restaurant was closed. I searched for options and realized SoSoBa was open and on my list of places to try. I ordered take out and when I arrived to pay and pick up my ramen the server didn’t give me an itemized receipt. Something was nagging at me telling me that I should ask for one but I ignored it. When I got home I saw that there was an additional almost $7 tip on the kitchen receipt that was attached to the bag. I had tipped on top of that as I was never told of this additional charge. I was really irritated but the restaurant had already closed so I couldn’t call about it.

I’m glad I saved my call until after I had tasted the food. I ordered a Katsu Ramen with an extra egg & noodles. Let me begin by saying that I’ve never seen a restaurant put noodles into the broth for a to-go order but unfortunately SoSoBa does. The texture of the noodles I had made me believe that they had been cooked at least several days ago. They were an extremely mushy, soggy mess swimming in tasteless broth! This place also doesn’t season their eggs which was extremely disappointing. If I wanted a regular hard boiled egg I’d just make it at home and not pay $3 extra for it…The only redeeming things about this meal were the nice presentation of the bowl (I forgot to get a picture) and the Katsu itself which was good.

Needles to say, I called the next day and spoke to a manager named Ariel to tell her about my unpleasant experience. She was friendly and empathetic which I really appreciated. She explained to me that the automatic tip was added during the beginning of the pandemic and was never removed. She also advised me that I could request this be removed when I ordered (I didn’t know about it so I couldn’t do that.) Additionally, I was told that the noodles get soggy if the food isn’t eaten within a half an hour (it was.) Even so, if they know this is an issue why not avoid future complaints and put the noodles on the side like every other restaurant? 🤦🏻‍♀️ Lastly, she did confirm that their eggs are not seasoned but they do have something else on them (mine tasted like nothing!)

The food itself wasn’t worth any “stars” however the customer service I received from Ariel was 5 star. I thank her for her helpful attitude and that she got my...