Extreme Spicy at Totto Ramen
After being a hater all of last week, it would appear as if my mood turned just like the weather has. And I remembered what Chris wrote about on Midtown Lunch about Totto Ramen. So I went to Totto Ramen with James and Kwan. The thing that caught my attention on the menu was the Totto Extreme Spicy Ramen. Because anything with all those chili signs is my Victoria Secrets. It's the equivalent of food lingerie to me. Spicy? Yes. Super duper extreme spicy? Yes please.
As you can see, what you get in the beginning is a normal bowl of noodles. It's basically their regular ramen. Rich and chicken-y, I loved this soup at first slurp. Never had chicken murder tasted so good to my lips. The noodles aren't as crazy al dente as the ones you find at Zuzu Ramen in Park Slope. Unless the noodles are falling apart, rarely would you find me quibble with noodles being on the softer side. I only learned of this al dente phenomenon after college. So along with this nice bowl of deliciousness, they give you this little saucer of red sauce... and when you pour it on your noodles, you'll get...
Tada! Look at that thing! It's just red... bright and fiery, the chili oil was a young Mike Tyson. In Chinese culture, red is the color of good fortune and joy. Despite the fact that Totto Ramen is serving up Japanese-style noodles, I still felt good fortune and joy from this bowl of noodle. My dining companions seemed to enjoy theirs. James had the original and I'll leave it up to him to share his thoughts on the noodles. Kwan seemed to enjoy his miso ramen, which featured thicker noodles than what you get with the regular bowls.
More and more I'm ready for fall. The one thing I'm not ready is to figure out which new TV shows to start watching. Has anyone seen any good premieres so far?
Totto Ramen
366 W 52nd St.
New York, NY 10019
212-582-0052
(I invite you to follow me on Twitter so you can get more of my non-sense in another medium.)
I tried their signature Chicken Paitan the other day. I thought it was pretty good, but not really anything special enough to make me crave going back. I liked the chicken broth, but I think they put a bit too much onion for my tastes. This was one of the few places where I didn't finish every last drop because all the onion left at the end overpowered the soup for me. The char siu was good though. It had just enough fat.
Patrick
September 26, 2010 10:23 pm
@Patrick,
Hmm... well I guess onion is a personal preference. I know you're not into the green onions either. Yet somehow you love durian... haha. I feel like chickeny broths are my thing. A lot of places do shio or shoyu broths that's just very average. And all the rage these days is for pork broths too... so I gotta taste more to compare. Char siu is almost always good at these ramen places. That's the one thing that's good about the ramen proliferation in NYC.
Danny
September 27, 2010 10:51 am
@Danny,
No, it only had 4 million viewers, which is not very good for a new show and likely means it will be cancelled soon (but it was great and well worth watching on Hulu, if you get a chance to do so!).
Max Criden
September 23, 2010 11:08 am
I am totally down for Hide-Chan, especially after seeing Kenji's no-holds-barred review it today on Serious Eats. Let's make it happen.
James Boo
September 22, 2010 4:53 pm
Never been to ZuZu, I'll check it out. But I think there are a few in SpamHattan that I'd like to go to first.
FN
September 22, 2010 2:54 pm
I'm headed back to the try the regular spicy and possibly the miso. I'll definitely right it up.
So right on the broth... it's pure chicken madness! And by that I mean no bullshit and all chicken. I really gotta make some of that at home...
James
September 22, 2010 1:28 am
Great post! And in answer to your TV question, Lonestar was so good. You can watch the premiere online, on Hulu. Unfortunately it's looking likely to be cancelled. Good stuff, though.
Max Criden
September 22, 2010 1:27 pm
@kim,
Yup, basically it's a dollar more for the hot oil. It's waaaay worth it. Although you do lose the chickeny flavor if it's so spicy.
@FN,
oh damn, see I have gotten a lot of mixed messages about naruto. But why go to Naruto when there's ZuZu Ramen in Park Slope?
@Ang,
Yea when it's just normal, they don't do it to ya like that. When it's extreme, it's like swimming in red goodness.
@James,
Yea the miso is intriguing since it's thicker noodles. I wonder if you could specify thick noodles with the regular broth... but Hide-Chan looks really baller too so I gotta try that one.
@Max,
Thanks! Oh really? It might get canceled? Is no one watching that?
Danny
September 22, 2010 2:27 pm
Now that looks damned good. I just went to Naruto yesterday and it sucked with a capital F.
FN
September 21, 2010 4:12 pm
when I ordered the normal spicy ramen, the spicy oil came in the bowl, not in a separate saucer. It was delish. The spicy bamboo side dish, however, was a bit too much for me.
Ang
September 21, 2010 7:55 pm
...and to bulls, red means attack.
As for new shows... Glee yo. Don't hate.
Nicholas
September 21, 2010 3:31 pm
@Nicholas,
Yes! Attack! Attack the ramen. Mmmm... I'm ok with bulls though. Mostly ok with the Bulls basketball team. haha. I'm down with Glee. Saw all of season 1 as it progressed last year. Ready for more!
Danny
September 21, 2010 3:54 pm
So basically it's a buck more for the pool of hot oil? Maybe you should buy a bottle (if they sell any). No, I adore summer. Think I've SAD or something...:P
kim
September 21, 2010 4:09 pm