(408) 246-2955
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
http://www.orenchi-ramen.com/
Hours: Lunch Tues - Sun 11:30am to 1:30pm, Dinner Tue-Thurs 6pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-9:30pm, Sun 5pm to 8:30pm
Last Visited: May 16, 2015
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$
Service: 3 stars
Orenchi Ramen is well known amongst foodies for having an excellent bowl of ramen and after eating there twice, I would agree. The perfection of the boiled egg with a slightly soft center, the rich broth, and the al dente texture of the thick yellow noodles that remains a toothsome throughout the meal create just the right combination of soup and noodles. The menu describes their soup as being made with organic chicken, Canadian black pork, and filtered water. It's cooked for a minimum of 18 hours. No wonder it's so rich.
Located inside a strip mall next to Grocery Outlet, you could easily drive by without giving Orenchi a second glance, but foodies know that it exists, as exhibited by the list inside the restaurant even before opening. If you're a newbie to Orenchi, don't make the same mistake that I did during my first visit. Open the door and add your name to the list as soon as you arrive - even if it's before opening time. Regulars know you can do this and you'll at least be in the queue. At opening, you'll find a large group inside and outside of their waiting area, so I recommend arriving early to avoid the wait.
The staff begins to prepare tables according to the waiting list so that as soon as they open, they are ready to begin seating with an even rhythm until the house is full. Pop music blares on the sound system, so you may need to speak up in order to be heard. Menus are already on the tables and water is brought to you not long after being seated. The wait staff is quick and ready to take your order, kneeling beside your table as they guide first timers through the menu and answer questions.
There are only four kinds of ramen, but a multitude of appetizers, salads, and gohan (small rice dishes). Appetizers include fried dishes such as spring rolls, potato croquettes, onion rings, and fries with Orenchi's twist on these dishes. You can also upsize most of the ramen with more noodles and additional toppings.
- Smoked Salmon Spring Roll - Beautifully plated, the spring roll tastes very fresh with all of the leafy greens. The slightly spicy aioli is a great sauce for just a little kick. The amount of salmon is acceptable, although I would have loved more, but the combination of greens and noodles make each a delicious bite. I would recommend this one for sure. $7.50- Karaage (Fried Chicken) - Each piece of dark meat is battered with seasoned flour. Served with a wedge of lemon, a tomato, and a fried shishito pepper, each piece of chicken is juicy and flavorful. It's good if you're into fried chicken and happen to be here, but Orenchi is better known for its ramen than its karaage. Although lemon juice pairs well with the chicken, I wouldn't have minded having a dipping sauce since we had a larger order. 3 pieces $4.30, 6 pieces $7.50
- Orenchi Ramen (Tonkatsu) - Pork, egg, green onions, bamboo shoot, mushroom, nori, and sesame over noodles. This was the first ramen I tried here. The broth is rich, the egg is perfect, and for me, it's probably the best ramen I've had locally. See above about the perfect noodle and soup combo. Note that the broth is actually a bit salty so it's not for those whom may be on a low sodium diet. If you're going to try one ramen, this is it. Very good. $9.80- Ore No Kuro Tan Tan Men - With only 15 orders available at lunch and another 15 at dinner, this dish is unique because of its combination of tonkatsu broth with a spicy sesame base. Spicy ground pork, seasoned minced meat, green onions, bok choy, bamboo shoots, and black sesame top the noodles. Like the tonkatsu ramen, this one is pretty salty too, but the flavor of sesame permeates every spoonful of soup. It's worth getting once to try, but I would probably get the tonkastu ramen during future visits. $13
If you only order ramen, then you won't feel rushed. Although the bill comes before you're done with your meal, it still feels like a typical Asian fast food place. However, with our multiple appetizers for this dinner, and the fact that the ramen came before we finished our appetizers, we were a bit slower to finish our meal. Our neighboring table had already left, and Orenchi staff began to set it up, including pushing it right up against our table for a four top. That and their multiple visits to see if we had finished our dishes felt pushy and their four star service rating has dropped to three.
Great ramen, good appetizers, and a fast paced atmosphere. Don't plan to linger, but do expect a great bowl of soup and noodles.
