Table: Kamamarui Ramen
Kamamarui Ramen is located in Burnaby near the intersection of Royal Oak and Kingsway. I spotted the place last year when I was running errands, but Anata and I didn't get around to trying the place until last week.
It's a very cute and clean inside with little nobs on the wall fashioned to look like dog behinds to hang your coats on. Seating is limited, so you may have to wait for a table like some of the people that came in after us.
Their menus are posted on the wall, and though the offerings are more limited than other places, it seems like it's one of those quality rather than quantity joints.
We ordered the soft egg appetiser ($1.50) because I'd read other reviews about how tasty it was. I would agree that it's certainly an interesting and flavouful egg! I wasn't too sold on how cooked the outsides were, as the white had already solidified and turned rubbery, but inside it was still a little on the goopy side as well the the yolk being partially cooked. I was I was expecting more of a perfect onsen egg, but aside from that I found the egg to be very well handled. There was a kind of sweet teriyaki sauce that came with the egg, and to my surprise I found bits of yuzu mixed in with the egg as well. It was really a nice a delicious little dish.
I ordered the tonkatsu ramen with the chicken flame donburi. Anata had the ramen with the bomb combo. I found the soup nice and "clean" without added msg, very nice flavour, not too salty. I was a little torn about the noodles, because while they were very springy and chewy, they were also really plain and didn't have a chance to absorb the broth or anything. They had been cooked in plain water and as such were very plain tasting. However, adding a little bit of the ramen sauce helped jazz them up a little.
Anata ordered the char-su ramen, and he found it super tasty. He said it rivaled the downtown triumvirate in terms of quality and taste. The meat was "fantastic" and he loved the sear on the pork and said it added so much flavour. He was very impressed with how well their pork was done. First served as thicker slices than other places, and the meat still tender and juicy, but flaking off in pieces such that you can pull strips off with your chopsticks, and then the sear that adds so much flavour and wonderful colour to the pork.
It's nice that they give you a variety of sauces to add to your meal to customise it. Donburi sauce, soy sauce, chili oil, and ramen sauce.
The bomb turned out to be their onigiri with seaweed and sesame with teriyaki sauce. Well done, didn't fall apart, good flavour, not too salty.
The chicken flame was a spicy chicken that came in a miso-bowl sized serving (it IS a mini donburi afterall). The chicken was well flavoured with great charcoal grill sear taste, and the seasoning was similar to the korean gochujang style sauce. Anata said it was pretty spicy and was sweating a bit so gave up, but for me it was more just right - enough for me to taste and enjoy the spiciness but not too spicy that I would have any issues. If you enjoy very spicy foods, go ahead, but if not then I would advise you not to order this.
Kamamarui easily rivals the downtown ramen joints, and if you're in Burnaby, is the best ramen I've had so far. Good food, good quality, decent prices to match. Will definitely be back again :)
It's a very cute and clean inside with little nobs on the wall fashioned to look like dog behinds to hang your coats on. Seating is limited, so you may have to wait for a table like some of the people that came in after us.
Their menus are posted on the wall, and though the offerings are more limited than other places, it seems like it's one of those quality rather than quantity joints.
We ordered the soft egg appetiser ($1.50) because I'd read other reviews about how tasty it was. I would agree that it's certainly an interesting and flavouful egg! I wasn't too sold on how cooked the outsides were, as the white had already solidified and turned rubbery, but inside it was still a little on the goopy side as well the the yolk being partially cooked. I was I was expecting more of a perfect onsen egg, but aside from that I found the egg to be very well handled. There was a kind of sweet teriyaki sauce that came with the egg, and to my surprise I found bits of yuzu mixed in with the egg as well. It was really a nice a delicious little dish.
I ordered the tonkatsu ramen with the chicken flame donburi. Anata had the ramen with the bomb combo. I found the soup nice and "clean" without added msg, very nice flavour, not too salty. I was a little torn about the noodles, because while they were very springy and chewy, they were also really plain and didn't have a chance to absorb the broth or anything. They had been cooked in plain water and as such were very plain tasting. However, adding a little bit of the ramen sauce helped jazz them up a little.
Anata ordered the char-su ramen, and he found it super tasty. He said it rivaled the downtown triumvirate in terms of quality and taste. The meat was "fantastic" and he loved the sear on the pork and said it added so much flavour. He was very impressed with how well their pork was done. First served as thicker slices than other places, and the meat still tender and juicy, but flaking off in pieces such that you can pull strips off with your chopsticks, and then the sear that adds so much flavour and wonderful colour to the pork.
It's nice that they give you a variety of sauces to add to your meal to customise it. Donburi sauce, soy sauce, chili oil, and ramen sauce.
The bomb turned out to be their onigiri with seaweed and sesame with teriyaki sauce. Well done, didn't fall apart, good flavour, not too salty.
The chicken flame was a spicy chicken that came in a miso-bowl sized serving (it IS a mini donburi afterall). The chicken was well flavoured with great charcoal grill sear taste, and the seasoning was similar to the korean gochujang style sauce. Anata said it was pretty spicy and was sweating a bit so gave up, but for me it was more just right - enough for me to taste and enjoy the spiciness but not too spicy that I would have any issues. If you enjoy very spicy foods, go ahead, but if not then I would advise you not to order this.
Kamamarui easily rivals the downtown ramen joints, and if you're in Burnaby, is the best ramen I've had so far. Good food, good quality, decent prices to match. Will definitely be back again :)