Wakayama

It seems like lately two new high-end ramen (Japanese soup noodle) restaurants have popped up on the island - Mist? in Causeway Bay (which I hope to be trying soon) and Wakayama, in IFC.









Definitely not your Beppu or Ajisen Ramen place. This upscale ramen shop on the 3rd floor of IFC has a sleek, modern decor. You can see the kitchen from the dining area.
























The tenderous rib ramen - basically a braised cartilage rib (lots of collagen, good for bones and skin!) so tender that it falls apart when you try to pick it up with your chopsticks. I chose the chicken and bonito broth, but you also have the option of choosing a pork-bone based broth. The chicken and bonito broth had a "sweet" (in the context of Chinese soups) clean flavor: there was the savory depth from the bonito but the sweetness of the chicken. It was definitely lighter than the pork-bone counterpart. Don't overlook that egg - it was perfectly cooked with a slightly coagulated yolk. Of course, there were the standard accompaniments of bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and seaweed. The noodles were slightly chewy (the way I like it), but don't leave it in the soup long because it starts to get soggy pretty fast.

For $125 + 10%, the set also includes a choice of a side dish of either the daily sushi or the gyoza. The gyoza were okay, nothing special.










Aside from the tenderous pork rib noodle, you also have choices such as Wagyu Beef, Japanese BBQ Pork, Sakura Shrimp, etc. Prices are from $100 - $160 for the set. There are a la carte items as well, such as Wagyu Beef sashimi, but I was pretty full just with the noodles and the gyoza.

The pricing's not outrageous for a lunch in Central, and not over the top given the quality of ingredients. Hopefully I will try Mist? to compare ramen soon!