Soho Ramen Riverside — Restaurant in Riverside

I'm making my way around the Food Lab trying each restaurant. Tonight I tried this one. My initial impression was very poor as I asked the cashier for an overview and when I couldn't get a decent response from that I asked her what was the one person having because it look different than the noodle bowls. She said it was a rice bowl. I asked her to explain what was in a rice bowl and for instance the first one on the menu and she pointed to another menu with the ingredients on the counter. Not too descriptive. However since it said it had pork belly I thought I'd try it. I was never more disappointed. I paid $9.24 for a large container of rice with three limp unflavored pieces of pork belly, three bites of broccoli and scattered corn kernels. I wanted to be fair and Sample their best but since I wasn't given any information I selected something and it was awful! The quality of the rice and broccoli and corn was good. There was no sauce. There was very little seasoning. When I got home I put on some black sesame seeds! To make it more palatable. Well there's another one I won't go back to! Not only is there service unhelpful but their food is unremarkably unremarkable. In addition they didn't ask me if it was to go or for there and did not give me one utensil one napkin one anything other than the Box. I hate this place because I wasted my seriously hard-earned money and had...

This place sucked. I ordered the salmon teriyaki box. The soup was absolutely flavorless like water and the salmon tasted like smoked lox dipped in sugar gel. I generously asked for a partial refund because I had choked down the soup and was willing to be fair about that. The owner refused and insisted I order something else. I reluctantly ordered shrimp fried rice. He refused to make that because he said the price of shrimp (and salmon) were high. Frankly I didn't want another dish because if they messed up my first order, they'd more than likely mess up the next. I tried to sympathize with him saying I understand inventory costs. I pleaded again for a refund. He demanded that I get chicken fried rice instead. I politely told him that I wanted seafood, that's why I orders salmon. He refused again. I said "well look, either I get a refund or you can make me something I want". He stewed a while while a line formed. He eventually huffed and puffed and made another dish....

SoHo ramen is one of many food spots located at the Food Lab Riverside. Here for an anime convention, this 12 seated counter spot( can fit 12 but only has 7 seats) has a selection of ramen, rice noodles, bento and more.

I got the Tonkotsu charshu pork ramen(standard basic ramen I review at all ramen spots). Broth felt a bit watered down, not as creamy. Simple egg, noodles wasn't hot, the charshu was steamed,less charred but above average. Too much bamboo shoots and spinach was okay.

It's not really a family style spot, they make everything in a to go. Gotta ask for chopsticks as well. I don't know why you would give out untensils for ramen, when everyone was asking for it.

First ramen spot out of the San Diego area and even thought it's fulfilling, I'm guessing SoHo main business would be the bento boxes. Nice art around the SoHo sign though. Glad to try just for lunch. Maybe there might e another ramen spot around? Idk, back to SD for now....