Tonkotsu Ramen Bar
| Address: | 1898 W 3500 S #10, West Valley City, UT 84119, USA |
| Phone: | +1 385-202-5241 |
| Site: | tonkotsu.us |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM 5–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 5
SN
Snoopy Foodie
I really didn’t know what to expect when I decided to come here for dinner tonight. When I think of Ramen usually what comes to mind are myriad recipies with hamburger meat and frozen veggies in my college days on a budget. The other thought that I had in mind was a Pho alternative but nothing unique really. I’ll be the first to tell you when I’m wrong, and I was wrong on both counts. I was greeted very warmly at the door by the entire serving staff which had the feeling of walking into the home of a very hospitable family. Being the newbie at ramen dishes I was not only given a tour of the menu, but also shown full size pictures of all of their main dishes so I could see what I was ordering. They have a very cozy dining room with cool lighting for dinner as well as a ramen bar seating area. I am a sucker for the bar seating because I can see the prep area and converse with the staff. As a matter of simple principle I always order the house special or the namesake whichever it happens to be called for my first visit. I ordered a side of Edamame to start with and some hot green tea with a touch of ginger. I couldn’t help but notice the very traditional style eating utensiles that are provided which give the meal an authentic feel. On to the main dish. Tonkotsu is Japanese for “Pork Broth” as Kim, one of the owners, told me as I was asking him about the place. You can order your soup with varying amounts of flavoring. I was always told go big or go home, so I opted for the dark pork broth which has a full flavor. Damn…. It’s very good here. The soup was served with a whole soft boiled marinated egg which I personally found to be a very nice touch. When I cracked the egg the yolk mixed with the broth adding a nice flavor and also giving it a creamy consistency. The soup had traditional ramen noodles, lots of green onion, kikurage which is chopped wood ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and the star of the dish, a nice big hunk of pork belly. Honestly I could have eaten five or six bowls of this ramen. And not because the portions were shotty, they aren’t. In fact they are very well balanced. It’s just so good I would eat like a goldfish for until I burst. I topped of the dish with moochi ice cream which is a ball of ice cream that is coated in a flavored rice flour which gives the ice cream a chewy consistency like taffy. It’s simple and delicious. So I haven’t set up my rating system yet so I’m going to wing this one. Here are the ratings: Location - 8 It’s kind of hard to spot if you don’t know it’s there, and 3300 is a busy road so access can be interesting. However it’s right off of 215 and just a shot from the Embassy Suites and West Valley Fair Mall. Only 10 minutes from downtown SLC. Not to bad at all. Atmosphere - 10 It’s a very cozy place. It’s not the Ritz, but I wasn’t looking for the Ritz. I was looking for a nice local place to relax and get some good food. It’s warm inside, it smells great, the music they play is good, the staff is happy and laughs a lot. It’s a good place to be for awhile. Service - 10 The service was as good as the food. Not only did I get a chance to speak with each server I also met the owners which are also the cooks so you know they are going to give you the best they can. I love smiles and laughter, so when I go into a place where they everyone is happy to be there, then I am happy to be part of it! Food - 10 I don’t have anything to compare this Ramen too, but know when something tastes good, and this was good. I can’t wait to come back and try the chefs recommendation!! The food was traditional, flavorfull, and not to salty. Just great in my opinion. Price - 10 The price was perfect. I had a three course meal for $16 and I am very satisfied with what I recieved as a product.
SH
Shane Stapley Animation Station
TLDR: Best Ramen in Utah. Hands down. Step up your game Tosh. First off, Tonkotsu has the best atmosphere of any ramen restaurant Ive been to in Salt Lake. The restaurant is comfy and clean, the seating is sensible and roomy, and the staff is helpful and prompt. Ive been several times and each time the staff has nearly fallen over itself trying to be serviceable. Now, on to the good stuff, the FOOD! Ive had a couple of their appetizers, and I was most impressed with the gyoza. It was smoky and savory and awesome. The ramen itself is complex and delicious: the tonkotsu ramen is rich and smooth, and the shoyu has a quality like freshly baked bread. The pork is cooked incredibly well: its not soggy like other restaurants, but instead tastes like crisp carnitas. The only complaint heard on my table was my wife didnt care for the pickled bamboo, as it was too sweet and gingery for her liking. I thought it added a nice counterpoint to the salty broth, but it may be something to note. All in all, Tonkotsu adds the best option to what is a niche food scene in Salt Lake. Other restaurants are certainly great, but as far as atmosphere AND food are concerned, Tonkotsu takes the cake.
AU
Austin Chappell
Went their for my first time last night. It was awesome. Apparently there are two restaurants right next to each other..? Im reviewing the one they call the Ramen Bar. I got their Kimchi ramen bowl with broth. It was amazing. Make sure to stir it up though because I bit into one of the pieces of cabbage that had the spice clumped together and I turned into Smaug for a quick moment. I also ordered the El Diablo sushi roll. I dont like deep fried sushi so this did not hit my favorites. If you enjoy deep fried sushi though, this one is the one to get. I ordered the Gyozo Nachos??? Think thats how you spell it.... anyway they were delicious as well. I got their Green Tea Japanese Cheesecake and it was just as good as any cheesecake you can order anywhere else. I wish I would have gotten their Mochi Ice Cream things. Would have given them a 4.5/5 due to their desert being sub par.
VI
Vinh Lu
Came here during their one year anniversary/customer appreciation promotion. The wait was very long, but thats expected when theyre completely packed. Lets get to the food, I found out the egg rolls are hand made weekly and are done really well, thats a must-try. The appetizer wings may be something to skip on, there was just too much batter and not quite what I remember them to be. We had the Tonkotsu ramen and the spicy one (cant remember the name) both were very flavorful and leaves little to be desired. Overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Tonkotsu ramen bar, the environment was very laid back, the decorations are very on trend and the service was okay. Due to the high volume of customers, there wasnt much service that day, but thats okay as long as the food was good, which it was. So I thumbs up and recommend this place for everyone.
AY
Aysha Williams
The service was great! The ramen was great too, not as good as Toshs though, but Tonkatsu seems to have more seating than Toshs, better parking, and proper chairs. I also like that Tonkotsu has a lot of options for Ramen. Im excited to try them all. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen. It looks just like the picture and tastes really good. The pork is very tender, and I loved the addition of the black garlic oil. My husband had the Miso Ramen and I enjoyed the broth of the Miso more. So I will get that next time. If you order a soda, they give you a 12oz can which I enjoy because it has more fizz. There arent any blinds (that I saw), so be mindful of where you sit. My husband and I sat with our backs to the door, so that we wouldnt get blinded by the sun.
