Marukin Ramen

Last updated
Marukin Ramen
Restaurant information
Food type Japanese

Marukin Ramen is a Tokyo-based chain of ramen restaurants. [1]

Contents

In 2021, two Marukin locations in Portland, Oregon, became known as Kinboshi Ramen.

Description

Marukin Ramen is a ramen shop based in Tokyo. There were nine locations in the Greater Tokyo Area, as of 2016. [2]

Portland, Oregon

Marukin operated two locations in Portland, Oregon, in Old Town Chinatown's Pine Street Market (housed in the United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Building) and in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood. Willamette Week 's Elise Herron described the Buckman location as "sleek, packing dark-stained family-style tables along the length of the building, which it splits with Thai chicken-and-rice phenom" Nong's Khao Man Gai. [3] [4]

The menu had vegetarian, vegan, and curry options. [5] The vegan Shoyu red ramen has tofu, vegetables, and mushrooms. [6] Marukin also served dumplings, fried chicken and karaage , [7] [8] onigiri rice balls with Japanese pickles, [9] tonkotsu pork broth, beer, sake, and wine. [10] [11] In 2016, Matthew Korfhage of Willamette Week wrote, "Marukin keeps it simple—counter-service ramen with a few sides—and unlike almost every other shop in town, it make its constantly improving, firm-textured noodles by hand at its own shop." [12]

History

Masa Hayashi and Hiroshi Kusuda are co-owners. [13] David Rademacher is a U.S. partner. [14] [15] [16]

In Portland, executive chef Masaji Sakai joined head chef Mayumi Hijikata. [2]

Kinboshi Ramen

Kinboshi Ramen
Kinboshi Ramen logo.png
Kinboshi Ramen, Portland, Oregon, 2021 - 3.jpg
Exterior of the Southeast Ankeny restaurant, 2021
Restaurant information
Food type Japanese
City Portland
State Oregon
CountryUnited States
Website kinboshiramen.com

Marukin opened two shops in Portland in 2016. [13] [17] [18] According to the Portland Tribune , the Pine Street location was "sought out to honor Old Town's Japanese heritage". [19] The two shops became known as Kinboshi Ramen in 2021. [20] [21]

Reception

Interior of Kinboshi Ramen in southeast Portland, 2021 Kinboshi Ramen, Portland, Oregon, 2021 - 2.jpg
Interior of Kinboshi Ramen in southeast Portland, 2021

In 2016, Benjamin Tepler of Portland Monthly said "Marukin Ramen is arguably doling out the best ramen in the city, with rotating broths, magnificent noodles, and solid snacks, karaage to onigiri". He said of the Buckman location: "The long, crimson-hued space has attracted lines out the door since softly opening in March. Luckily, Marukin turns out its food with lightening-fast efficiency—under five minutes from iPad swipe to communal table". [9]

Willamette Week's Matthew Korfhage wrote in 2017:

Marukin's tonkotsu is nonetheless in a class by itself in Portland—slightly light for the form, avoiding both indelicate porky sweetness and the gut bomb afflicting lesser tonkotsus, without sacrificing any depth of flavor. The effect is like an elephant riding a unicycle, terrifying and amazing in the bigness of its balance. If you like spicy, get the red version: Marukin has lately dialed in its chili levels to perfection. [22]

Korfhage included restaurant's tonkotsu in Willamette Week's 2018 list of "our favorite noodle bowls and plates in Portland for less than $15" and said, "Every broth served at Marukin is excellent—spicy, miso, shio, whatever... But it's all about that deep, hazy, porky tonkotsu shoyu bone broth... It feels impossible in both its delicacy and its depth, digging deep into the marrow of comfort." [23] [24] In 2017, the newspaper's Martin Cizmar wrote, "Marukin has wowed us since opening since opening its first stateside shop here. When we ate 39 different bowls around the city last year, Marukin came out on top in tonkotsu and made a strong showing elsewhere." [25]

Thrillist has said, "Marukin's simplicity is notable -- the bowl is not overly loaded with meat and veggies, relying on the impeccably seasoned broth and handcrafted noodles to satisfy ramen lovers and convert those poor, sad, lonely ramen skeptics. In short, Portland’s noodle game just got bumped up a notch." [26] The website's Dan Schlegel called Marukin an "essential" restaurant for Buckman in a 2016 list of Portland's 11 "best neighborhoods for eating". [27] Alex Frane included Marukin in the website's 2020 list of the "best spots to slurp ramen" in Portland. [28] Marukin was a runner-up in the People's Choice category at the Whiskey and Ramen Festival in 2017. [25] The Daily Hive included Marukin in a 2021 list of 7 "spots in Portland that serve up slurp-worthy ramen". [6]

Seiji Nanbu included Kinboshi in Eater Portland 's 2022 overview of "where to find knockout ramen in Portland and beyond". [29] In 2022, Willamette Week included Kinboshi's chicken paitan ramen in a list of the city's "souper stars". [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramen</span> Japanese dish of wheat noodles in a meat or fish broth

Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a broth; common flavors are soy sauce and miso, with typical toppings including sliced pork, nori, menma, and scallions. Ramen has its roots in Chinese noodle dishes. Nearly every region in Japan has its own variation of ramen, such as the tonkotsu ramen of Kyushu and the miso ramen of Hokkaido.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonkotsu ramen</span> Ramen variety originating in Fukuoka

Tonkotsu ramen (豚骨ラーメン) is a ramen dish that originated in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture on the Kyushu island of Japan, and it is a speciality dish in both Fukuoka and Kyushu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine Street Market</span> Food hall in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Pine Street Market is a food hall in the United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Building in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, curated by Feast Portland co-founder Mike Thelin. The building's renovation cost $5 million. The market opened in April 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ichiran</span> Japanese restaurant chain

Ichiran Ramen is a Japanese ramen food-service business specializing in tonkotsu ramen. The chain restaurant began in Fukuoka in 1960 as a ramen stall named "Futaba Ramen" (屋台双葉ラーメン). It was later renamed "Ichiran" in 1966. After three decades of serving ramen from a single location, under the leadership of CEO Manabu Yoshitomi it opened its first concept store in 1993, which became the blueprint for all future Ichiran ramen shop locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramen shop</span> Japanese noodle shop

A ramen shop is a restaurant that specializes in ramen dishes, the wheat-flour Japanese noodles in broth. In Japan, ramen shops are very common and popular, and are sometimes referred to as ramen-ya(ラーメン屋) or ramen-ten(ラーメン店). Some ramen shops operate in short order style, while others provide patrons with sit-down service. Over 10,000 ramen shops exist in Japan. In recent times, ramen shops have burgeoned in some cities in the United States, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grassa (restaurant)</span> Restaurant chain in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area

Grassa is a restaurant with multiple locations in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, in the United States. The original restaurant opened in Southwest Portland in 2013; subsequent locations have opened in Northwest Portland's Northwest District, in Southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood, and in Vancouver, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxer Ramen</span> Chain of ramen restaurants in the U.S. state of Oregon

Boxer is a small chain of ramen restaurants in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, in the United States. Micah Camden and Katie Poppe opened the original 30-seat Boxer Raman in Portland in 2013, followed by a second in January 2015. Matt Lynch and Chris Thornton later joined as partners. Boxer Ramen opened third, fourth, and fifth locations in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shift Drinks</span> Defunct cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Shift Drinks was a cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon. The bar opened in 2015 and closed in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Dragon (restaurant)</span> Restaurant and bar in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Double Dragon is a restaurant and bar in Portland, Oregon, United States. Chef and owner Rob Walls opened the bánh mì sandwich shop in 2011, which was later expanded to include more food and drink options.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vault Cocktail Lounge</span> Defunct cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Vault Cocktail Lounge, previously Vault Martini Bar, was a cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunk Sandwiches</span> Sandwich restaurant chain based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Bunk Sandwiches is a sandwich restaurant chain, based in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shandong (restaurant)</span> Chinese restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Shandong is a Chinese restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afuri</span> Ramen restaurant chain based in Tokyo, Japan

Afuri is a chain of ramen restaurants, based in Tokyo, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicken and Guns</span> Restaurant in the U.S. state of Oregon

Chicken and Guns is a restaurant with two locations in the U.S. state of Oregon. The restaurant operates a food cart in Portland, and the brick and mortar Smokehouse Chicken and Guns opened in Gales Creek in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonesome's Pizza</span> Defunct pizzeria in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Lonesome's Pizza was a pizzeria in Portland, Oregon. Co-owners Noah Antieu, Nic Reddy, and Nik Sin started the delivery-only business in 2010. In 2012, Lonesome's began operating from a window at the nightclub and music venue Dante's. Known for its quirky pizza names and for including artwork and music with deliveries, the pizzeria closed in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bing Mi</span> Chinese restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Bing Mi is a Chinese restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The original food cart specializes in the Chinese street food jianbing. The brick and mortar Bing Mi Dumpling and Noodle Bar opened in 2022 and focuses on Northern Chinese noodles and dumplings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nudi Noodle Place</span> Asian restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Nudi Noodle Place, or simply Nudi, is an Asian restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pho Oregon</span> Vietnamese restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Pho Oregon, or Phở Oregon, is a Vietnamese restaurant in Portland, Oregon, specializing in pho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EastBurn (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

EastBurn, sometimes known as EastBurn Public House or stylized as Eastburn, is a pub and restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hapa PDX</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Hapa PDX is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

References

  1. ↑ "Portland's New Best Ramen Place Is Straight From Japan". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. 1 2 Bakall, Samantha (2016-03-04). "First look: Japanese ramen chain Marukin's first U.S. restaurant in Southeast Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Noodles". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  4. ↑ So, Adrienne (2016-05-13). "Noshin' on Noodles at Portland's Marukin Ramen". Sip Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  5. ↑ "A ramen restaurant in each state". USA Today . Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  6. 1 2 "7 spots in Portland that serve up slurp-worthy ramen | Dished". Daily Hive . Archived from the original on 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Marukin Ramen - Downtown - Portland, OR". The Infatuation . 2022-08-23. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  8. ↑ "Marukin Ramen". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  9. 1 2 "Unbeatable Bowls at Marukin Ramen". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  10. ↑ "Two New Portland Ramen Shops Take the Noodle Soup Beyond Japan". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  11. ↑ "Huge Food Hall Pine Street Market Opens in Downtown Portland". The Daily Meal. 2016-05-11. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  12. ↑ "Why Are Tokyo Ramen Shops Suddenly Taking Over Portland?". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  13. 1 2 Russell, Michael (2016-01-19). "Japanese ramen chain Marukin opening two Portland shops". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  14. ↑ "Can Ramen Conquer Fast Casual? | QSR magazine". www.qsrmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  15. ↑ Andrea Damewood. "Marukin's Miraculous Noodle Machine". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  16. ↑ Tannler, Nancy (April 1, 2018). "Marukin Ramen". The Southeast Examine.
  17. ↑ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-03-03). "Japanese Ramen Restaurant Marukin Softly Opens Tomorrow, Interior Revealed". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  18. ↑ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-01-19). "Tokyo's Marukin Ramen Chain Announces Second Portland Location". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  19. ↑ Anderson, Jennifer. "Portland joins food hall revolution". Portland Tribune . Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  20. ↑ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2021-06-08). "The Portland Outposts of Japanese Ramen Chain Marukin Are Now Known as Kinboshi Ramen". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  21. ↑ "Foodie Friday: Kinboshi Ramen". KOIN.com. 2021-06-25. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  22. ↑ "We Tried 39 Bowls of Portland Ramen—These Are the Very Best, By Style". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  23. ↑ "Our Favorite Noodle Bowls and Plates in Portland for Less than $15". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  24. ↑ "Marukin Ramen". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  25. 1 2 "Han Oak, Marukin Take Home Top Honors at Portland's First Whiskey and Ramen Festival". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  26. ↑ "Marukin Ramen". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  27. ↑ "The 11 Best Neighborhoods for Eating in Portland, Ranked". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  28. ↑ "The Best Spots to Slurp Ramen in Portland". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  29. ↑ Nanbu, Seiji (2016-04-06). "Where to Find Knockout Ramen in Portland and Beyond". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  30. ↑ "These Are Portland's Souper Stars". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.