Hide-Chan’s Black Ramen is a Garlicky Force to Be Reckoned With
Totto Ramen isn’t the only ramen place in the Totto empire that opened for lunch recently. Right before the holiday break Midtown East got their newest ramen spot, Hide-Chan Ramen, which began serving lunch in the former Yakitori Torys spot- also a sister restaurant to Midtown West’s Totto Ramen and Yakitori Totto (did I get that right, Zach? I’m getting confused between the Tottos, Ramens, and Yakitoris). While I work in a prime location for Menchanko Tei to be my main ramen spot, Hide-Chan has opened in an area that doesn’t have too much in the way of ramen. And let me tell you they are serving some awesome ramen, enough that I might haul it up a few blocks (in the winter months of course.)
Under Brownie’s tutelage, I’ve been learning the ways of the ramen for the past few years. It’s no longer just the junk food of my college years, but I still have a hard time getting past the sodium levels in most ramen broths. I enjoy the ramen… the five pound weight gain is another story. Basically, what I’m saying is if you see me start slurping down ramen like it’s the last meal I’ll ever eat, that means it’s great ramen. Since Hide-Chan is backed by an impressive reputation, I fully expected it to end up high on my ramen list. (At least that’s what I kept telling myself as I walked up these former peep-show stairs!)
The lunch menu that’s available from 12-2:30p hovers around the ML ceiling, a few items are just over $10, and any sides will surely put you well over $11. We had heard that Hide-Chan is doing a pretty authentic tonkotsu (pig bone broth) ramen, but I was in the mood for something different- and went with the Kuro Ramen or black ramen.
Roasted garlic flavor throughout from the ma-yu, this is the ultimate ramen for a girl with Eastern European heritage (my ancestors used garlic like we use pepper). The noodles were cooked to al dente, and the broth is where it’s at: cloudy, thicker, extremely flavorful, but not resembling a liquid salt lick. The noodles were also accompanied by some black dumplings and a few shreds of tender pork. I would have taken some close ups, but I was so enraptured by my ramen that I totally forgot. It’s that good; completely on par, if not better than, some of the other Midtown ramen joints, and surely a welcome addition to the neighborhood… you know, once fall is here.
Hide-Chan Ramen, 248 E. 52nd St, 2nd Fl (btw. 2nd+3rd) (212) 813-1800
Posted by Blondie at 11:45 am, July 14th, 2010 under Hide-Chan Ramen.
27 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
nice an actual review of the few at a “new” place. :P