Brookline

Ganko Ittetsu Ramen – Brookline

December 3, 2018 by Rich

[4/5] I’ve been coming here for quite some time. I first heard about this place in an article from Eater Boston ranking the top ramen shops in the area. After trying out a few places, I was getting disappointed but kept on trucking trying to find my go-to ramen joint. Does Ganko Ittetsu deliver? Well, you’ve stumbled across the best review. Read more below.

Review #056
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4/5
Average = 4

Service (20%)
Friendliness 4/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 4

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom n/a
Dining area 4/5
Kitchen area 4/5
Average = 4

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
= [2.6]+[0.8]+[0.6]
= 4

The Pluses…
+ Simple, easy MENU to follow. It’s literally a piece of paper printed on both sides. Nothing fancy or gimmicky. Just 6 types of ramen soups, sides, and a beer section. They don’t waste time trying to sell anything else, they know exactly what they are. I like it!
+ Clean, nice, modern interior and AMBIANCE.
+ I only come here for the GANKARA MISO RAMEN. I don’t even need to try the other soups. This one is nicely spiced and rich in pork flavor. The egg is perfectly cooked, and the egg noodle texture has the right amount of chew for my liking.
+ For a tiny place, they are very efficient with handling the WAIT TIME. You can join the wait list on Yelp, check in, and walk around the area. They’ll text you when the table is ready. Fortunately there’s lots of window shopping and people watching in the area to kill time.
+ The wait team works really well together. Speedy, responsive, and harmonious like synchronized swimmers 🙂

The Negs…
– No major negatives here. If I had to knit pick it would be that the broth can be salty but I found this to be true at 95% of ramen places I’ve been to.
– Parking can be difficult. There’s public parking in the back and street parking but these fill out quick especially during weekends.
– This place is small. Anticipate sitting close to strangers and moderate wait times.

In Conclusion…
Yep, all it took was one visit to Ganko Ittetsu and I was hooked. Ganko Ittetsu Ramen, imo, is one of Boston’s best ramen shop. It’s no surprise why people keep coming back here including myself. They offer a very solid experience: delicious ramen, ambiance, service, and speediness. They know exactly what they are and they don’t try to be anything else. I’ve been coming here for years so I’d say it’s worth a stop.

#ChowYouLater

Ganko Ittetsu - Gankara Miso — Gankara Miso

BAB Korean Bistro

May 24, 2018 by Rich 16 Comments

It seems like I’ve been going to Coolidge Corner a lot recently. I guess I’m getting Allston fatigued. After awhile Allston can be limited especially if you live there so nearby is Coolidge Corner, not as hip but a more grown version. I was craving for Korean and honestly, just looking for my next new restaurant to victimize, I mean, review 🙂

Food: See pic (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 3.5/5
Portion to price 5/5
Average = 4.17

Service (20%)
Friendliness 3.5/5
Promptness 3/5
Average = 3.25

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 4/5
Dining area 5/5
Kitchen area 5/5
Average = 4.67

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
= [2.71]+[0.65]+[0.7]
= 4.06

What else to know: So what can one expect going to a 2 month young restaurant on a Friday night? Hmmmm… chaos and slow service? But on the positives, nice waiters and delicious food? Yep! All the above applies for this restaurant. I ordered the Sundae Gopchang Jeongol (serves two). My, oh my it was quite delicious and filling. That’s all I needed. No apps and dessert. I was with my GF and we couldn’t finish the whole thing. We had to take the rest home which made another great meal at home. My one gripe is the speediness. It was rather slow and you know with Korean food, I drink lots of water so having it constantly refilled is a must. Not to worry as I expect them to improve over time especially since they are new. I will update my review accordingly. Overall, very promising and I’ll be back.

Ittoku Brookline

May 12, 2018 by Rich 18 Comments

I don’t go to izakaya’s often but when I do, it’s this one in Boston. Come here for the sake and grab some skewers! Their menu is like a tour of Japan with all the different varieties which alone make it worthwhile to visit. The menu pictures are great for those who need more than a description of words.

Food: See pic (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 3.5/5
Portion to price 4/5
Average = 3.83

Service (20%)
Friendliness 3.5/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 3.75

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 3.5/5
Dining area 3.5/5
Kitchen area 3.5/5
Average = 3.5

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
= [2.49]+[0.75]+[0.53]
= 3.77

What else to know: I lived in Japan for half a year so I’ve been to quite a few izakayas in my time. When this place first opened, I was excited to finally visit and try some Japanese foods I can hardly find in Boston. I was amazed with the menu. There is a diverse selection of foods from your traditional izakaya eats like yakitori, to sushi, and hotter meals like ramen and rice bowls. On top of that there is a large selection of sake. I prefer my sake dry and full bodied 🙂 Kudos to the taste profile chart. It makes ordering sake easier. If you’re unsure, ask for a sample. Overall, this place is pretty good and a solid choice if you’re craving for some hard to find Japanese dishes. Come here if you miss Japan, it’s as good as it will get in Boston.

Xiang Yu China Bistro

May 7, 2018 by Rich 16 Comments

What used be Takusan Sushi is now Xiang Yu China Bistro. After my first visit, I will say I was pleasantly surprised. This place brings it! Food here is simply delicious!

Food: See pic (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4/5
Average = 4

Service (20%)
Friendliness 3.5/5
Promptness 3.5/5
Average = 3.5

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 4/5
Dining area 5/5
Kitchen area 5/5
Average = 4.67

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
= [2.6]+[0.7]+[0.7]
= 4

What else to know: I happened to be at Trader Joe’s and suddenly craved for something spicy. I go on my Yelp and Xiang Yu China Bistro with 5 stars pops up. That immediately caught my eye and after trying a couple of dishes I have no regrets. With so many Hunan and Sichuan restaurants popping up everywhere, this place was refreshing. For once the food was actually spicy. You see, I’ve built a tolerance over the years and my lips do not get numb anymore from Sichuan peppercorns. After a few bites, it was quite satisfying (for a spicy food lover) having the need to gasp for air. To my surprise, there was only one waiter that day. With over 10 tables to himself, he brought the food out pretty fast. Kudos to that man 🙂 Although he was fast, understandably we had to wait for some time for water. Trust me, you will need it!

Steamed Soup Dumplings
Spicy Beef Hot Pot
Chicken in Chili Oil
Spicy Pork Kidney

Temptations Cafe – Brookline

April 22, 2018 by Rich 30 Comments

4.5/5

As solid as a cafe can be. Come here for the quality sandwiches and paninis. Clean all around, and a germophobe haven.

I was in the mood for a quick bite. I was driving around the area and came across this place. I didn’t know they had another location out here in Brookline. Since I’m a big fan of the one on Huntington Ave I knew I had to stop by.

Food: See Pic (65%)
Taste to price 5/5
Quality to price 5/5
Portion to price 3.5/5
Average = 4.5

Service (20%)
Friendliness 4/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 4

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 5/5
Dining area 5/5
Kitchen area 5/5
Average = 5

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
= [2.9]+[0.8]+[0.8]
= 4.5

What else: I love how clean the place is. I could literally eat off the floors. Friendly staff. Lots of tables and seats. Much larger than the Huntington location. Great for studying or getting work done. Come here for lunch.

Brookline

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