Rain Bistro — Restaurant in Temple Terrace

I’d give it a 4.5 but there’s no option here. This is going to be a loooong review heavily broken down by a very picky traditional ramen fan who travels the world for food. Get ready :)

Overall rating of ramen: 7/10 (not an average of the individual ratings)

Individual Ratings: Noodles 6.5/10 Broth 8.2/10 Toppings 3/10 Chashu 2.7/10

Broth/Noodles: Broth was pretty good actually! It had a nice mellow but rich flavor, didn’t feel too heavy. The black garlic made it feel a bit heavier, but it wasn’t any saltier so overall it was a fine addition. I prefer the original personally. I did not get that sticky mouth feel that I love with traditional Japanese ramen, but the flavor was the BEST IN TAMPA so I’ll accept happily! There were a lot of noodles, although they were a bit overcooked. They were the correct type though and tasted good.

Tppings: I heavily disliked the wontons, it’s not very traditional, nor did they taste all that great to me. It would be better to make them a cheap paid option, considering they’re currently “free” with the bowl. The people who want it will pay for the addition, while those who don’t like it will waste it.

The Naruto (fish cake) was not my favorite either, it tasted almost like nothing. I prefer other brands. A slightly sweeter Naruto would have a more compatible flavor for this broth rather. I also felt the egg and chashu needed more flavor. Marinating them for longer, or brushing with more marinade then slightly charring/flametorching the pork after it’s cut might be a good idea. I liked the baby corn though, it had a good flavor.

First impression is that the restaurant smelled weird, similar to a mattress store. I understand though that the place is newer and the furniture is likely causing that but it did give me a bit of a headache.

The waitress got both of our orders wrong. She brought the wrong order, we said so immediately, and she brought it to a different table. Not a big deal, they’re still getting into the flow I’m sure. And everyone makes mistakes. The atmosphere was nice, very calm, clean.

As for the chicken katsu, we rated it a 6.9/10. It was ok but kind of boring, a little dry. But tasted good...

To be honest I had very low expectations when we walked in to Rain Bistro. We are a bit spoiled with ramen and have had some amazing ramen over the years. Our favorite place (Ichicoro) in the Tampa area closed two years ago and we’ve yet to find anyone with great ramen. The place inside is very underwhelming but super clean. It’s a bit like a senior living cafeteria. They could up the interior feel because the Ramen is AMAZING! We had the Tonkotsu - I base all ramen on the Tonkotsu as it’s the most complicated broth to master. The combination of flavor and fat content giving it that creamy delicious taste and mouth feel! They nail it here! It’s perfect! The pork in the soup is not melt in your mouth, but still delicious with a hint of sweetness from the katsu sauce they brush on it. The black garlic oil is a must. We’re personally not a fan of bamboo shoots as they can change the flavor of the broth. The portion size was perfect, the price was reasonable, and the service was excellent! I think the only thing stopping this place from blowing up in popularity is the decor. They should have a neon sign with a steaming bowl of ramen outside, make the interior more cozy with decorations from the region, some colored hanging paper lanterns, and loose whatever air fresheners they have going inside. Maybe add some vegetables or some healthy items to the menu as well. We will be back . Thank you for the amazing food...

This highkey has to be some of the best Ramen I’ve had in a very long time if not the best out of many of the ramen restaurants I’ve visited in my time traveling.

The menu is extremely easy to read and serves great selections of food. Me and a friend got a bunch of small appetizers to try including Gyoza dumplings, Rains Wrecking Drumette, and Chasu buns. All were very well priced and delicious in addition to a ramen dish called the Miso Ramen black garlic which was very hearty and well balanced in flavorful chicken broth and popping tastes of mushrooms.

They even have a fantastic selection of boba teas that really top the cake. I got the coffee milk tea that paired perfectly with my meal. The staff is so polite, fast, and I'm amazed at how well priced this food is for what you’re being served, (Budget friendly). The music was a great soft vibe too, perfect for having a quality conversations with others and added a chill vibe to the atmosphere.

Amazing quality, I would recommend this place to anyone with a fine taste for authentic ramen and need a night out with friends or family. I will 100% be bringing my friends back here for more. Very well done Rain Bistro, thanks for the delicious meal and...