Welcome to another Monday Munchies, back to being in blog mode. I hope that I can continue the videos again at some point, because they were very fun to do! In the coming weeks, I'll have PLENTY of places to post about as we eat our way through Peru, but for now I have a couple of new spots to talk up until we leave.
This week, we're shining the spotlight on Tanma Ramen in Kingston NY. A small Ramen shop that is currently "quietly open;" a term I had never heard of until we looked this place up. Basically, it's open, but by reservation only. As luck would have it, I found out about the restaurant on Thanksgiving eve, after they were already closed for the night. Assuming Tanma would be closed on Thanksgiving, I had to wait until Friday to call and make a same-day reservation for the evening. The woman I spoke to was polite, kind, and very excited about the good arrangement of repetition of the number in my phone number. It was a very genuine and interesting interaction and she seemed warm and friendly. A good indication of what the dining experience would also be like. Needless to say, I was excited about the delicious meal we'd be getting for dinner that night!
I went with my friend Lara, who you'll know from my Iceland adventures, as she had never ever had ramen that wasn't in a styrofoam cup. There's hardly anything better than a rich, indulgent broth filled with crimped noodles, and topped with greens and tender pork slices. My belly is rumbling now just thinking about the aroma of the soup and the atmosphere of the warm, inviting, comfort of the shop. But, anyway, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.
We were seated at the bar and the gentleman behind the bar was welcoming and friendly, but we didn't interact too much with him beyond welcoming, ordering, and leaving as we were engrossed in our conversation. We also didn't start off with ramen, we started with one of my favorite appetizers, and apparently Lara's too- gyoza!
These yaki-gyoza were plump and delicious. My only complaint was that they stuck to the pan enough to put holes in the sides, filling allowed to spill out. However, that's not a big deal and probably an easy fix on their part. I'm more concerned with the taste...and boy were these things good. Basically everything you'd expect from gyoza, bright and flavorful, addicting, and packed with pork and veggies. They were pan-seared (what the "yaki" is referring to in the name) and steamed which gave them a nice crispy outside and a juicy middle. The sauce wasn't my favorite dumpling sauce I've ever had, but it was tasty; light and slightly sweet. A nice balance for the savory dumplings.
Speaking of sweet and a good balance, I opted to try the Ume sparkling water. Something about it was calling my name, even though I'm not typically into sparkling water or seltzers. WOW! It surprised me. I can't speak for the other flavors, but the ume flavor was out of this world. Very flavor forward; not diluted or treated as an afterthought like with other sparkling waters I've had. The main difference with this one being that it had ume puree in it for the flavor. What a big difference it made. While I know this isn't something that was made by the restaurant, I think it speaks volumes that they stock high-quality and delicious drinks to accompany your meal. I'm also about to go search and buy this brand of sparkling water! Hopefully its not too tough to track down.
Now, what you've all been waiting for, it's on to the main course. I will say, the options for types ramen were a bit limited as were the toppings available. Not even an onsen egg or any egg option to be seen. I was crying internally about that one. Tanma only offers Miso or Shio ramen, with the Shio ramen being a nice vegan option and you could even add a vegan version of chashu (the pork in the miso ramen). Also on offer were gluten free noodles! It's always a plus to see any restaurant offering options for those with different eating preferences or limitations. I was also asked about dietary restrictions while making the reservation- love that!
I was personally very sad that there was no tonkatsu ramen option, as your girl is a tonkatsu fanatic, but I still enjoy the other broth types and flavors as well. Miso ramen was the clear choice for both of us and we chatted while we waited for the ramen to arrive...after devouring the gyoza of course. I also Shazamed quite a few of the songs playing and added them to my Spotify throughout our whole visit.
A young woman came out of the kitchen holding two glorious bowls of ramen, setting them in front of our eager little faces. My stomach rumbled. But, before we could pick up our chopsticks, the woman asked if he had dined at Tanma before. No ma'am, "and also my friend here has never even had real ramen before" was something along the lines of what was said. She then led us through a short, interactive demonstration on how to eat ramen which I thought was incredibly cool. I'd never really been taught it before, everything I learned about ramen has been through anime to be completely honest. She taught us the correct technique for ramen consumption and of course encouraged slurping- as it cools down the noodles and brings out the flavor of the broth. It was a very unique experience and a very nice touch.
As for the ramen itself; it was full of umami flavors, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the chashu was tender, and the whole bowl worked together beautifully from presentation to taste. A wonderfully balanced bowl of soup. To finish the meal off, the bartender asked if we would like a complimentary scoop of either red bean or green tea ice cream. The answer was an obvious "yes" and we both opted for the green tea variety. Served in a paper cup with a tiny wooden spoon was the perfect amount of ice cream to end your meal on a sweet note...without being overly full. A very nice and welcome surprise.
If I am ever back in the Kingston area, I will absolutely be making a reservation at Tanma ramen to try more of their menu. If you're in the area or will be visiting, please consider giving them a call to make your reservation and to enjoy a splendid meal. You can find them at:
579 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401
845 853 8306
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