Up to expectations? - IPPUDO

Ever since this place was opened I have been dying to try it, especially after receiving some horrendous service from Kanada-Ya (Another authentic ramen place located right opposite of Ippudo, click here to read the review) However, day by day I hear about the two-three hour queueing time and it made me very very lazy. BUT HERE IT IS!
Soooo... What's the VERDICT!

First impression was: This restaurant looks very chic, it must be expensive (lol) The restaurant has two floors and spacious dining area. As you walk inside you will see an open kitchen where food is prepared (as well as the ramen broth)

And just as I anticipated, the price tag was a little over the top. Take drinks for example. These glasses were £3 each ! They are just about the size of my hand, with a big cube of ice! I physically saw a staff pouring green tea from a massive 2L bottle that you could get for about £2 yet he charged me £3 for this small sip.

Saying that, tab water is provided for so my advise is: Do not order any drinks.

Hamachi Carpaccio RRP£12
Yellow tail carpaccio with a wasabi citrus glaze, avocado, fresh grapefruit and Ippudo salsa.

The sauce was refreshing. The citrus and grapefruit took away some of the bitterness of the wasabi, giving a good balance. This is almost like a cheap version of the Carpaccio from NOBU (read review here)

Hakata Tonpu-Yaki RRP£8

A savoury pancake with sliced pork belly and cabbage, prepared with Ippudo’s signature pork broth, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and hanakatsuo served on a sizzling iron plate.

If you have never had okonomiyaki (a very popular pancake dish in the Kansai area in Japan) before, this place definitely does NOT set a good example of what an authentic one should taste like. There were far too much fish shavings (which I dislike); there was not enough dough, and the pancake was burnt because the pan was too hot. 

And to the star of the night.....

Akamaru Modern RRP£11

A bolder translation of the original pork broth; homemade thin noodles topped with Ippudo’s secret Umami Dama paste, pork belly chashu, bean sprouts, sesame kikurage mushrooms, spring onions and fragrant garlic oil.

Shiromaru Hakata Classic RRP £10

Our original tonkotsu pork broth; homemade thin noodles topped with pork loin chashu, sesame kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts and spring onions.

MUJI RECOMMENDS! In my opinion, the two bowls are very similar and both were delicious. The texture of the noodles I loved- it was chewy but not hard. The broth was very well made and had a lot of flavour to it. The eggs (extra charge) was cooked perfectly with a half runny egg yolk, just like how the Japs would do it. The portion size was very reasonable too!

Overall Rating: 
(Ramen and service were up to standard. However, my advise to you is: DO NOT order anything else but Ramen)

Staff: 
(Sufficient number of staff and very attentive service, especially compared to Kanada-ya)

Food: 
(The verdict? Comparing to Kanada-ya the two ramen are very similar. But as much as I hate to say it, the broth in Kanada-ya wins it slightly)

Hygiene: 
(Spacious, neat seating with comfortable chairs and clean toilets)

Value: 
(Reasonable value if you order nothing but ramen. The drinks, amongst all things were a massive rip off. Saying that, tab water is provided on every table upon arrival)

NB: Review above is a mere personal opinion.

Ippudo has a no-reservation policy. For more details of the restaurant click here.