Eat Me: Ramen Ya in Kahului

By Kristin Hashimoto

Big Bowl Ramen, photo by Kristin Hashimoto

Like noodles? Ramen Ya in the Queen Ka’ahumanu Mall has some solid ramen offerings for anyone looking to fill up and feel good.  If you’re in need of some comfort food, this restaurant has a menu line-up that will certainly satisfy.

The value quotient of cost to portion size is almost ridiculous. A bowl of ramen, especially the Big Bowl Ramen is larger than your head. The price? For $9.95, chicken katsu, tamago (egg), wakame (seaweed), scallions, corn and thinly sliced pork lays across a hot liquid bed of noodles. Honestly, the noodles will go soggy before you can get to the bottom of the bowl.

The large order of fried rice is another study in portion size, as a take-out container will be necessary. The pork fried rice comes to the table with each grain of rice glistening, yet not oil drenched. The rice isn’t mushy, and is not over-hard. Each grain bites back without a starchy undercooked quality. Bits of egg, pork, peas and pink uzumaki (spiral fish cake), create a flavorful rice dish that is a complete entrée.

Pork Fried Rice from Ramen Ya, photo by Kristin Hashimoto

Ramen Ya offers other hearty bowls of noodles such as: curry udon, chicken katsu ramen, and mapo tofu ramen or udon. The broth is flavorful; it won’t have you gulping water while eating due to the inherently salty quality of the shiru (broth).

Slurp, sip and enjoy. Ramen Ya is open daily Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Stop in for the free gyoza each afternoon from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (with every entrée order). Call 873-9688 for more information.