Since that evening was the only time cousin T was free, lil' sis and I drove over the river and around the mountains (there's always a mountain in Portland) to the other side of town. If it takes longer than 15 minutes to get to somewhere, by PDX standards, that's "really far."
She took us to Hakatamon, a Japanese restaurant next to Uwajimaya. Don't let the fact that it's connected to a supermarket dissuade you. Cousin T said her husband said Hakatamon has really excellent udon.
Standard salad.
Spicy tuna roll, eight pieces for $4.25. Standard sushi but nicely priced.
Lil' sis ordered the hakata ramen for $7.50. The pork was really tender. The noodles were the thinner hakata-style. While the ramen was OK and good by Portland standards, we've been spoiled by Southern California's Daikokuya Original Noodle & Rice-Bowl - Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), Santouka - Costa Mesa, and even Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Rosemead. The broth was milky, a sign that the bones had been simmered for a long time, but there was just something missing to the overall flavor, a complexity if you will.
Later, when cousin T and her husband were in town, I took them to Daikokuya, and even on a off-night, they still thought it was better than what they've had in the Portland area.
Cousin T ordered the chicken katsu curry, a breaded and fried chicken cutlet topped with beef curry and rice, for $8.95. It also came with miso soup. The chicken was crispy, not greasy. The serving was so huge that she easily took most of it home as leftovers.
I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon (Japanese Hot Pot Thick Noodle Soup in a Metal Pot) with chicken, tempura, and poached egg for $8.95. According to Guilty Carnivore, the udon noodles used to be hand-rolled, but the person making them took a break and the restaurant has now focused on perfecting their ramen instead. That's a shame because the udon was easily the best dish of the night. The noodles had a nice chew and tenderness, the broth was comforting, and the tempura and other ingredients were just right.
Mmm. Just the picture makes me want another bowl.
Later, cousin T got confused and told her husband I didn't care too much for the udon. He got all upset wondering where I can find better. Hmph!
Haha! No, I quickly reassured her and him. I didn't think the ramen was remarkable, and after they ate at Daikokuya, they then realized why. But I did like the udon. I did! :)
Who else ate at Hakatamon?
Guilty Carnivore said he enjoys the hakata-style ramen here, although it still doesn't compare to what he's had in California.
All Oregon posts can be found in the tag, Series: Oregon. I suggest reading this particular trip in this order:
I-5 From LA to Portland
Mom and Dad's Garden
Burgerville - Portland - Oregon
Hakatamon - Beaverton - Oregon
I Think I'll Go For a Walk Outside Now...
Vista Point - Oregon City
End of Oregon Trail Interpretive Center - Oregon City
Stevens-Crawford Heritage House - Oregon City
Museum of the Oregon Territory - Oregon City
Mom's Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Sizzling Crepes)
Blackberry Cobbler
Bonneville Lock and Dam - Cascade Locks - Oregon
Bonneville Hatchery - Cascade Locks - Oregon
Multnomah Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Horsetail Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Wahkeena Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Bridal Veil Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Historic Columbia River Highway - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Latourell Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Crown Point Vista House - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Banh Cuon Tan Dinh - Portland - Oregon (Closed)
Downtown Portland - Oregon
Lan Su Chinese Garden (Portland Classical Chinese Garden) - Portland - Oregon
Powell's City of Books - Portland - Oregon
Mom's Geoduck, Dynamite-Style and Chao Oc (Vietnamese Rice Porridge with Clams)
How to Prepare Geoduck and Razor Clams
Geoduck, Japanese Dynamite-style
Chao Oc (Vietnamese Rice Porridge with Clams)
Le Bistro Montage - Portland - Oregon
Kenny and Zuke's Delicatessen - Portland - Oregon
Hakatamon
10500 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy
Beaverton, OR 97005-3111
503-430-3106
Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*****
1 year ago today, Maggi seasoning sauce.
2 years ago today, the Year of the Pig began and I showed off the food I got from my family.
I haven't had udon in quite awhile, but the return of the hot weather makes me not want to eat it now. :P
ReplyDeletelove your pic quality. Starting up a new blog so one day, maybe it will be as popular as yours. probably not, but a girl can hope. Toodles
ReplyDeleteHAHA its funny that I have to say this but I am a noodle king, I love anything noodles, actually I prefer it over rice. Those udon noodles look great, the ramen looked good as well. Doesn't the texture of udon kind of remind you of Banh Canh?
ReplyDeletehehehe... I think that looks like a lovely find! I miss a good thick ramen- thick meaning the soup must be strong in flavour and that one looks like it could jolly well pass the test.
ReplyDeleteHa! Glad you enjoyed the udon. There's a new ramen place in Beaverton that supposed to be really good. We'll try it next time!
ReplyDeleteWeezer Monkey,
ReplyDeleteCold weather will come back soon enough.
Diligent Delitante,
Is there a reason for misspelling delittante? These photos were taken with my trusty point-and-shoot Canon SD1000, so nothing special. Just keep taking photos and blogging.
David,
Yup. I've always called banh canh VNese udon. :P
Daphne,
Having ramen tonight! Can't wait! Been craving it for a while.
Thao,
I did! It was the ramen that could use some improvement. ;) We'll have to try the new place when I'm home again then!
That's true here in Vancouver as well -- at least for us who are LAZY: anything over 20 minutes is "so far!" ;D
ReplyDeleteTS,
ReplyDeletePortland is such a compact city. I realize I can drive from one end of town to the other in 15 minutes. So anything beyond that IS far! :P