Had a very disappointing experience at Chicago Ramen's Desplaines location today. Mainly, I thought the ramen (spicy red miso) was an overly thick, gloppy bowl that completely lacked balance. It was extremely salty and was so strong with garlic (was it raw? burnt?) that no other flavors were discernible. The bowl itself was also way too full, making it just about impossible to maneuver. Not saying it should have been a smaller portion but a larger vessel would have been more practical and more in line with how things are usually done. But that didn't really matter because there was so much garlic in it, I barely made a dent. I asked our server if it was supposed to be so garlicky but I'm not sure she really understood the question. If she did, she was nodding yes.

After that (I packed up the first bowl), frustrated, disappointed and bit confused, I actually ordered a second bowl -- this time, Chicken Ramen. This was a clear broth, its surface dotted with inviting with patches of fat. It was definitely better than the first bowl but seemed more like a conventional bowl of chicken noodle soup than a bowl of ramen, at least as I've come to understand it. It was a bit bland but honestly, that may have just been because my palate had been blown out by the saltiness of the first bowl. Either way, it was nothing notable. So, 0 for 2 on my maiden voyage.

It didn't help matters that when I arrived at around 4:30pm, and the place was virtually devoid of customers -- with plenty of staffers milling about -- there were a number of dirty ramen bowls still occupying several of the spots at the counter. Why they were sitting there, I do not understand. But . . . sad.

If you've ever seen Tampopo, you might feel, from the moment you entered, that this place had no chance to be good. While I realize that the film is a work of fiction, I think it still holds some truths. I didn't like the food but no place that comports itself like this is striving to be taken seriously. I was hoping that my hunch was wrong (we LTHers know that one cannot always judge a book by its cover) but it turned out to be disappointingly accurate. I'm certainly no expert on ramen but I know what I like -- and I've had bowls at several places around town -- and this was, by a wide margin, the least enjoyable bowl I've ever had in Chicagoland. What a waste of my time and money.

=R=