Oh Brother

Before heading over to the Horseshoe for some hopefully fun music, I stopped by Isshin Ramen for dinner on a rainy Thursday. This noodle house is one of only 2 that I know that offers vegetarian broth. Given that the standard pork-based ones are so high on sodium, even if rather tasty, I decided to go for the veggie option this time around. First came the kaarage appetizers. These fried chicken strips were hot and crispy, perfect to dip into the mayo/aioli sauce. The ramen (got their special "twisty" noodles) was also good. But overall, it was disappointing. First, the broth was milder but still salty. More importantly, the vegetables weren't as abundant as expected. I was hoping for mounds of bean sprouts, mushrooms, and the like. They were there, but in about the same quantity as the regular ramen (and you get pork with those). Another misfire was the ground pork replacement in the form of firm, shredded tofu bits. Gritty and bland, they were not good. Simple, deep-fried tofu cubes would be better.