Back in October 2009, shortly before Keizo of Go Ramen left to pursue his ramen dream in Japan, his friends and some food bloggers gathered to wish him well and good-bye. He chose Foo Foo Tei Noodle House in Hacienda Heights, where he once accomplished the "Foo-Foo Challenge," eating there every day for a month because the restaurant boasts 31 flavors of ramen.
I had only been to the knock-off Foo Foo Tei Noodle House in Monterey Park, which has since closed. I thought it was just OK, and had been meaning to try the original. So, this was the perfect opportunity for comparison.
The 31 types of ramen the restaurant offers were displayed on signboards all along the wall.
I've long ago forgotten which flavor of ramen Ila of I Nom Things ordered. It looks like the miso flavor, $6.60, in pictures? I just remembered she added a spoonful of butter.
Butter! As if ramen wasn't fatty enough. But she insisted it made the ramen taste even better.
She just set the spoonful of butter rest on top of the ramen, and let the butter gently melt into the broth.
After the butter melts, it's just a super unctuous ramen.
An order of gyozas was $3.75.
I think her husband ordered the Shio (Japanese Salt Ramen), $6.30.
The prices are pretty good, especially for such generously-sized bowls.
One of Keizo's friends ordered the Mabo Tofu Ramen, $8.
And I went for the nanchatte tonkotsu ramen with white cream soup, $7.50. It was creamy and velvety and porky and so much better than the Monterey Park rip-off.
Other unusual ramen flavors include: beef tomato, curry, menudo, kimchee, shiitake mushroom, oysters, clams, and chicken ramen with chicken wings. Definitely worth checking out if you feel up to trying all 31 ramens yourself.
Keizo with chef and owner Takeshi Murakami.
And check out Keizo's blog so you can follow his ramen dream.
Other ramen restaurants:
Daikokuya Original Noodle & Rice-Bowl - Los Angeles (Little Tokyo)
Daikokuya Original Noodle & Rice Bowl - Monterey Park
Santouka - Costa Mesa
Santouka - Los Angeles
Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Gardena
Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Rosemead
Foo Foo Tei
15018 Clark Ave.
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
626-937-6585
Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
*****
1 year ago today, Pok Pok - Portland - Oregon.
2 years ago today, frozen yogurt at Peach House - San Gabriel (Closed).
3 years ago today, Fried Rice with Bacon, Corn, Eggs, and Green Onions.
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