Sour Grapes

I’m by no means a ramen conaisseur but I know what I like. In the West End Vancouver ramen wars between Benkei and Kintaro my vote usually falls on the side of Benkei. You can opt for a more consommé-like chicken-based “Shoyu” broth, not just the tonkatsu / pork broth of Kintaro, and the toppings are a bit more refined, plus I like their roast pork better. But Kintaro has a trump card. Served in broth and topped with both shredded and sliced (possibly emmenthal) cheese their “cheese ramen” is a force to be reckoned with. Resembling something close to “ramen poutine” in all it’s ooey-gooey semi melted goodness you alternate slurps of broth with bites of cheese caked toppings and perfectly cooked noodles… all for about $8.

It’s not summer food. It’s heavy and filling and you need hunger to be able to finish the bowl, but it is delicious and unique and brings it on. If you do end up at Kintaro in the summer and just can’t face the cheese, opt for the cold ramen instead. It comes sans-broth dressed with shredded omlette, veggies, and pork and is doused with a vinegar based dressing. It may not give Korean cold noodles a run for their money but it does open a new front in the ramen wars!!

Kintaro- 788 Denman St., Vancouver, Tel: 604-682-7568

Benkei Ramen- 1741 Robson St, Vancouver, Tel: 604-688-6980

(nb: For a good dissection of the ramen at Benkei see jay_kay’s post on the Chowhound forum here)