SHODAY RAMEN — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

Stepping into Shoday Ramen felt like a little escape from the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh. It wasn't just about grabbing a quick bite; it was more like finding a cozy corner on a rainy day. The warm lighting and the gentle hum of conversations created this really comforting atmosphere.

I ordered their signature Shoday Ramen, and when it arrived, the aroma alone was enough to make me smile. The broth was rich and flavorful – the kind that warms you from the inside out. Each slurp was like a little moment of pure comfort. The noodles had that perfect springy texture, and the toppings, especially the tender chashu pork, just melted in my mouth.

Honestly, as I ate, I found myself just… relaxing. It was one of those meals where you kind of forget everything else for a little while. Maybe it was the warmth of the broth on a slightly cooler evening, or maybe it was just the care that seemed to go into each bowl, but it felt really nourishing, both for my body and my mood.

The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. They seemed to genuinely care that everyone was enjoying their meal.

The only tiny thing that kept it from being a perfect 5/5 for me was that I wished the broth had just a touch more complexity, a little something extra to really make it sing. But honestly, that's a minor point.

Overall, Shoday Ramen was a really lovely experience. It's more than just a ramen shop; it's a place where you can find a little bit of warmth and comfort in a bowl. I left feeling satisfied, content, and already looking forward to my next visit. If you're looking for a comforting and heartfelt meal in Ho Chi Minh, I definitely recommend giving Shoday...

🍜 贅沢醤油 / zeitaku shoyu 🇻🇳 shoday ramen / district 1, ho chi minh city 🗓️ 08/06/2024

(@wei.oframen on ig for my ramen adventure 😚)

Shoday is a brand that came from Hokkaido where the group also runs a shop in Sapporo, Otaru, and Yokohama. From the kanji, the name should be read more like Shodai(?). Their signature bowl is a shoyu bowl but they also offer a shio and a few miso variants like most Hokkaido shops. This bowl of shoyu kinda caught me off guard because of how collagenous the broth was. Due to this high-viscosity broth, it had no problem clinging to the noodles at all. The broth was definitely one of the higher-quality shoyu broths you will find in HCMC. However, I'm not too sure if I like these nood strands. I wish they were a bit chewier, or perhaps they could've cooked my noods a bit more. It was just a bit too firm and dense imo but that's just my preference. The zeitaku clocked in at over 220k vnd, making it one of the most expensive bowls in HCMC's Japantown. I think ordering the regular shoyu for 165k and adding an ajitama for 20k would've been a better deal here. They were also offering free toppings if you check in on Google Maps so keep that information in mind when you read the whopping 1300...

The service is so good, it should be 5 stars. The food is good, but I didn't think the ramen was as good as a place nearby. The noodles themselves were the problem. Yet overall, it's a quality ramen. I'm not exactly sure what I ordered, I just looked at the pictures.

I normally take a photo of the menu, but I didn't this time. I think I tried the Zeitaku Shoyu. It was one of the more expensive ones, around 220K/$8.95. I also tried a pan-fried chashu & rice side (48K/$1.95).

There is VAT (I think it's 8% because I paid a weird number, around 294K).

The chashu was good, I wish I would have gotten a bigger bowl of that.

They brought out a pitcher of extra broth, but I didn't quite hear what it was and thought it was more water. Seeing my water cup wasn't water, they brought me another cup of water without me needing to ask for one. I wanted to give extra for a tip, but they declined (even the tip box...