Tanpopo

If you love saimin (okay, ramen), chances are you've seen Tanpopo, that lovely food film about the search for the perfect bowl. Any ramen restaurant named after said film should be amazing, right? It's quite a reputation to live up to. After all, the characters in the film transform their dingy noodle bar into a popular and profitable one simply by producing the best ramen ever.

But I had doubts, or more so, a critical palate when I went to Tanpopo in San Francisco's Japantown. I grew up on saimin, ramen's "Hawaiianized" version, and have always been disappointed by the offerings I've found off the islands. I loved Katayana-Ya, but the Sunset shop shut down, and I found myself without a reliable spot for ramen. I've had delicious udon and other noodle soups at other places, but there's something about ramen that immediately brings me home.

Enter Tanpopo, a somewhat small, oddly shaped space with many two-seaters and a few larger tables. It's quite crammed, especially when sitting elbow to elbow with your neighbor. Along the back is a long bar where you can sit and slurp your noodles. Our first visit was after the lunch rush, so there were many open tables. While we immediately got seated it took awhile to actually place our orders, and then even longer to get the order. And once we were done eating, it took even more time to get our tab and pay the bill. That said, this is not a place to go if you are in a rush. There are at the most two staff covering the tables, running steaming hot bowls back and forth (how the heck do you carry those without dropping them?) But as they say, if the food is really good, it's truly worth the wait.

I ordered the shoyu chashu, which is ramen with shoyu broth and extra chashu (roast pork). The ramen arrived freshly made (or assembled), nicely hot, and in a huge bowl. There were huge, meaty slices of chashu, a piece of fishcake and nori, and some bamboo shoots and green onions. My companion got the kyushu chashu ramen, which has a more "earthy" broth--lots of bamboo shoots and pickled ginger. There are many other kinds of ramen on the menu, each with a different broth and additions, such as garlic and sprouts, or if you're not into pork, chicken or just veggies. But the shoyu chashu is perfectly fine. In fact, it's quite an amazing bowl of ramen. Tender noodles, flavorful not-too-salty broth, and the chashu. OMG, it's definitely not your average roast pork. The meat is sliced so there's a bit of fat running through the flesh, which makes it even more tastier. And there's a lot of chashu to savor in the bowl. Usually when you get ramen, there's one sad piece of meat, and this I used to save until the very end. Well, no more. Here you can have your meat and noodles at the same time. Simple, yes, but so delicious.

And if ramen isn't your thing, you have to try their fried rice. You can get a small cup-sized order for $1.50 or an even larger one for less than $7. It is the most lightest, tastiest fried rice I've ever had, and believe me, I've had plenty. The rice is perfectly balanced with bits of egg, green onions and chashu, along with other finely chopped veggies. Also on the menu are rice plates such as katsu curry (which I'll review at a later time) and broiled mackerel. I've yet to try these--I just can't get past the bowl of shoyu chashu to sample other things. But like they say, when you find something that tastes amazing, why would you want to eat anything else (at least in the same sitting?)

Tanpopo, 1740 Buchanan St (at Sutter), T: (415) 346-7132

Comments

[Eric Suesz]

There used to be a phenomenal noodle shop downtown in San Francisco. It was called Oiri, but it closed down about five years ago. It was at Cyril Magnin and Ellis. Boy, I still think about it.

[Pomai]

Howzit TitaGurl,

I just got into food blogging and found your site. Great too see you can get your local grindz fix up in NYC.

That Tanpopo Chashu Ramen looks pretty good. We used to go to Japan every year and eat in small ramen shops all over the Ginza in Tokyo... so ono! Now, many Japanese nationals who make Hawaii their new home have opened Ramen shops in Honolulu. Some really good ones! I'll post some reviews at my blog later.

Stop by my new food blog at The Tasty Island when you get chance.

Mahalo,
Pomai
Born, raised and now blogging on Oahu

[Pomai]

Titagurl,

Sorry fo' boddah you samoa, but I wen' change my url from pomai.wordpress.com to tastyisland.wordpress.com.

So if you visit my new blog (I only get 'tree entries), da' buggah stay ovah heah...
The Tasty Island

Oh, and I juss' wen realize you stay California now. :-)

Mahaloz,
Pomai

[Reid]

Creen,

Nice to see that you are still around! I was just up in SF....and I wish I had known about this place...so close to the hotel.

[Maria loves pictures]

The Tanpopo sunds very delicious.
I guess the food must be a passion for the human who invented Tanpopo. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[Greg]

Came upon your blog while searching Google for Hawaiian lunch plates. Loving it!

[Amy]

I have passed that place a million times but never tried it. I love the miso ramen at Sapporo-Ya at the other end of Japantown. I know what you mean about it not being quite the same thing as what you find in the Islands.

[jr]

looks really good

[Ruthie]

Creen,
My hubby and I love Tanpopo. We love the chahan(fried rice) too and especially love the ankake ramen.

We have been addicted to Ihaw Ihaw off of El Camino in San Bruno but now need to venture off to Patio. You are now my foodie-sistah!

Keep eating so I can read all about it. Saves me money and pounds!

[Kelly]

my boyfriend and i go here all the time for the shoyu chasu ramen!! we love it!! we have yet to find a better ramen spot in the bay area. i had to comment when i saw your article...also, very good is their chicken karage...