Passing by this relatively new shop on our way back from a run, my housemate Eiji, asked if we should give it a try the next day. There was, to be honest, not many ramen choices around Nippori.
We were greeted by a short queue that took usually long, and we had to wait out in the cold due to the lack of space in the store. This was not a promising start. Getting seated down, the service was indeed slower than most good ramen places. Apart from the lack of staff, it seemed like one of them was really just very slow. The cups were not cleared completely before we sat down, which I’m sure is not too uncommon in Singapore. But in Japan, taboo.
The food came soon enough and it looked pretty good. The soup was light and tasty, the noodles was a bit hard for my taste. The egg did not run when I bit into it, which was quite disappointing. It happens to be my favourite ingredient of a ramen and the yolk has to flow like an egg Benedict on a good English breakfast.
The after meal feeling was good, possibly due to the long wait in cold weather before. However, I would rate the food average at best, further dampened by the slow unenthusiastic service. If you are in Nippori and craving ramen, take a train.
I do not know why they translate り (ri) as "li".
Supposed to be their signature dish.
