Momotaro Ramen

Momotaro Ramen sits within Paso Market Walk, just a handful of blocks north on Spring Street from the main square. The Paso area doesn’t really shine in Asian cuisines, and Momotaro definitely stands out. The menu is somewhat simple, with no substitutions, but plenty of additional toppings to select from, and it executes on its offerings well.

We were greeted by a very friendly server who was clearly personally passionate about the menu and was very friendly and helpful, guiding us through the options. I was waffling between the Momotaro (tonkotsu · chashu · green cabbage · moyashi goma-ae · ajitama · mayu · scallions) and Tantanmen (soy milk sesame broth . spicy ground pork . baby bok choy . ajitama . scallions . chile threads). Generally, I lean toward tonkotsu broth for ramen, but I’ve also been spoiled by Mensho Tokyo’s tonkotsu broth and often am disappointed by others I’ve tried since. That being said, I generally am not a huge fan of chashu (too fatty for me), and I was also drawn to the spicy ground pork in the Tantanmen. The server mentioned the Tantanmen was very popular and was added to the regular menu after being a hit as a special, and I settled on that. My dining partner bought into her description of the Shio (double broth · yuzu kosho · narutomaki · kaiware sprouts · nori · ajitama · scallions), adding a spicy miso bomb.

Being a counter-serve venue, it was easy to see the care put into the preparation of our bowls. Our server also introduced us to the seasonings (chili oil, soy sauce, ichimi togarashi, and sesame seeds). Also in the box of accompaniments was The Adventure of Momotaro The Peach Boy, the namesake of the restaurant, which was a cute touch.

We both really enjoyed our ramen selections. Great quality, fresh ingredients and flavors. We will definitely return.