During our stay in Hong Kong we had booked a couple of nights in Macau, and it meant we needed to get the ferry over the water. We arrived at the ferry terminal (which is in a shopping centre) not quite expecting the quite mad, packed scene that awaited us.
Once we’d worked out where and how to buy our tickets for the ferry, we realised we had a bit of a wait, so went in search of some lunch. We stumbled across a place which looked like it did decent ramen’s and we both fell in love with the cute Japanese logo. There was a small queue but we were seated in no time and ready to order.
It turns out that Ajisen ramen was founded in Kumamoto, Japan in 1968 and is a chain with over 700 shops worldwide. I had no idea it was a fast food restaurant, but laterly have found out that it is, and that it’s famous for its Tonkotsu soup (pork broth).
I chose the Vegetable ramen and my, oh, my…it was GOOD. Beyond good. It was spiritual. Quite probably one of the best soups I have ever had. It had a mikly, rich broth, flavoured with toasted garlic. It was jam-packed with vegetables – sweetcorn, bean sprouts, crunchy carrot noodles, spring onion, spongy mushroom, dried mushroom and a tangle of perfectly al-dente noodles. Bliss.
Everything about this soup was perfect; the taste, textures and timing. It was moreish and I ate every single last mouthful. PLEASE open a place in London Ajisen Ramen!
Words and pictures by LadyLavish