2 February 2010

Ryo's Noodles, Crows Nest


It's barely 6pm on a weeknight and already there is a substantial line snaking around the side of Ryo's Noodles in Crows Nest. Passers-by on the footpath and on the road slow down to see what all the fuss is about. And what is the big fuss about Ryo's? Only what is rumoured to be the best ramen in Sydney.

Menu

We join the queue which is already longer than the shopfront itself but within 15-20 minutes we are seated. I've brought Sir D here to try and convert him to ramen (if Ryo's can't do it, then who can?) so we both order two bowls of ramen with the tonkotsu soup base.

Soy sauce tonkotsu ramen with roast pork, nori, egg and shallots - $11.50


I stick to the classic soy sauce tonkotsu ramen with roast pork, nori, egg and shallots. The large bowl of noodles arrives steaming at our table with the distinct thick, almost gelatinous texture of the tonkotsu soup. Half a soft-boiled egg, some vegetables and swirly pink and white Japanese fishcake slices sit on top of a generous scattering of sesame seeds which also hides 3 slices of juicy roast pork. A large nori sheet sticks out of the side of the bowl, half soggy from the soup and half crunchy. The broth is super tasty, almost on the verge of being slightly too salty but perfect when eaten with the slippery, springy ramen.

Spicy hot tonkotsu ramen with roast pork, egg and shallots - $11.50

Sir D goes for the spicy hot tonkotsu ramen with roast pork, egg and shallots. The broth is a vivid red colour with a layer of chilli oil sitting on top of the broth, which adds a nice spicy kick to it. However, the broth is too salty and not spicy enough for Sir D, and he still does not like the chewy-ness of the ramen noodles.

Roast pork rice balls (onigiri) - $4.00 each

All is well though, because we've ordered a few extras to accompany our enormous ramen bowls. The roast pork onigiri are fat triangles of rice, shredded roast pork and sesame seeds wrapped with sheets of nori. These are deliciously moreish and perfect as comfort food.

Soft shell crab - $6.00 each

I can't resist a soft shell crab so we order one to share. The batter on this baby is light and crispy and there is a decent amount of crab meat inside as well.

There were still patrons waiting outside when we finished so we quickly paid the bill and left despite the fact that I felt too full to move. In hindsight the bowl of ramen was probably enough to satiate me, but everything was so delicious that it was worth enduring the food coma consequences!

Ryo's Noodles
125 Falcon Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Ph: +61 2 9955 0225 (no bookings taken)
Open Monday - Sunday (closed Wednesdays), noon-2.30pm and 5pm-9pm


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Ryo's on Urbanspoon

16 comments:

  1. hey jacq, good post! Ryo's is an all-time fave of mine, Winter or Summer! I have to agree on the overly salty broth though, makes you very thirsty indeed! but the roast pork rice balls are winners for me everytime - perfect lunch-sized portion, if only they delivered!

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  2. Haha I always go past Ryo's and there's ALWAYS a line. Have yet to try it, but YUM rice balls are the best!

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  3. The onigiri here are the best! Love, love, love Ryos. The quality is always consistent as are the crowds.

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  4. I havent been to Ryo's for ages, I think is time for me to go back! HAve you try GUmshara? It's pure heart-attack! But Ryo's has more variety which also a winner.

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  5. Ryo's was the first ramen I've ever tried and it's def one of the best, but it's sooooo far from me! My regular ramen haunt is Zenya at Eastwood. Their ramen is prob not quite as good as Ryo's but good enough to save me the long drive!

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  6. Love a good ramen, but am rarely out that way. I'll have to stick with Gumshara I think, although I do love the options available here.

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  7. an oldie but a goodie :-) i want that soft shell crab now!

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  8. argh still havent tried ryos! every time i go its sold out!

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  9. I love Ryo's but can't believe you managed a bowl of ramen plus onigiri plus soft-shell crab...food coma indeed! I've heard Gumshara's excellent too but haven't had a chance to try yet.

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  10. i love the ramen here and they make a mean rice ball too!

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  11. Hi Mei - Yes I love the rice balls! If only they had smaller bowls of ramen so I could indulge in ramen and onigiri without feeling overly full!

    Hi Stephcookie - I'm actually quite ashamed of myself that I only just tried it for the first time recently considering I live so close! Don't worry, the wait isn't too long :)

    Hi Zina - I'm willing to brace the constant crowds as long as I get my onigiri fix =D

    Hi billy - No I still haven't tried Gumshara although I've been meaning to for ages! I think I'll be struggling to finish the bowl though!

    Hi Karen - I think I've walked past Zenya a couple of times (don't go to Eastwood that often) but I'll give it a go next time I'm around there!

    Hi joey - Now I've just got to get myself to Gumshara to see what the fuss is about hehe

    Hi Simon Food Favourites - I can't resist a good soft shell crab either hehe

    Hi chocolatesuze - Sold out? I didn't know they got sold out?! That's crazy! Come to my neck of the woods and I'll take you there hehe

    Hi mademoiselle délicieuse - Oh believe me I felt like I was going to explode haha.

    Hi panda - Yeah the ramen is good hey? I love that they have so many different soup flavours as well!

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  12. Ahh Ryo's! I've never found better ramen, even in Tokyo! Did you see the autograph from Iron Chef Sakai on the wall? We used to eat at 6pm to avoid the queues lol

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  13. Ooo .. those onigiris are the best! Love their miso bolognese ramen (sounds wrong - but tastes great) and curry chicken katsu rice too :)

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  14. Hi Lorraine - No I didn't get a chance to have a good look at the wall with all the signatures! We were sitting on the other side of the room.

    Hi foodwink - I've heard good things about the miso bolognese! Must try that next time :)

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  15. This might be the answer to my ramen craving after coming back from Japan!

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  16. Hi Howard - Good to know that Ryo's is up there with real Japanese ramen!

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