Joined a friend for a very enjoyable meal here earlier this week. We started with a few small bites . . .
Maitake Mushrooms -
tempura, tentsuyu dashiReally enjoyed this take which was a bit darker and harder-shelled than traditional tempura. But that really worked. These were meaty, earthy and delicious, and the harder exterior was a nice foil for the naturally chewy maitakes.
Takoyaki -
octopus puffs, aonori, bonito, mayo, japanese bbq sauceNot a ton of perceptible octopus here but great flavor and a really nice combo of textures, with a light and crispy exterior and a tender, densely-spongy interior.
Gyoza Dumpling -
berkshire pork, veggie, soy vinegar sauceVery tasty, even the scorchy-torchy one on the left. Wrappers were crispy-tender and the filling was flavorful and unctuous.
Karaage -
house marinated cage-free fried chicken thigh, sriracha mayoNotably juicy chicken and so nicely seasoned, it was actually better without the sauce. Nice exterior crust, too.
Finished up with the eponymous main event, Goku Spicy Miso Ramen . . .
Goku Spicy Miso Ramen -
pork broth, charsiu pork belly, ajitama egg, menma, bean sprouts, green onion (spicy)This was lovely. What I liked about it was that every component was full-flavored, they all worked in unison and the overall bowl wasn't an over-the-top salt bomb. Really nice flavors, textures, etc. After we finished our ramen, my friend joked that he was so full but could still eat another bowl. Obviously, he was joking (okay, maybe he doubled back after we parted ways) but I agreed with his point. This wasn't overwrought in the least. Just a beautiful bowl of harmonious, delicious ingredients.
Was grateful this thread popped up recently and put Menya Goku back on my radar. In the haze of covid, it kind of fell off my short list (along with everything else). Will definitely be back, even though it took nearly an hour to get there from my office in Niles (left at 4:30, arrived at 5:25). At that hour, the small room was virtually empty. By the time we departed at just after 7, it was full with a few folks waiting for seats.
=R=
Same planet, different world