With the weather turning colder, my little foodie brain moves into soup mode. Chowders, bisque, pho, a steaming bowl of flavor-packed broth with noodles or a chunk of bread always seems to hit the spot. And of course, Japanese ramen comes to mind, too. Toothsome noodles in a savory broth with some greens and a soft egg marinated soy sauce usually hits the spot! One newer ramen house is Miso Ramen Bar up on Capital Boulevard. It had slipped by my radar screen and opened up in Gateway Plaza as the second location (original location in Cary) of this small restaurant group. So I decided it was time for a visit to see what they were doing.
Miso Ramen Bar, Raleigh – Location, Decor
If you’re not familiar with Gateway Plaza, it’s conveniently located off of Capital Blvd. past the Greyhound station. A larger plaza housing other popular spots like Union Special Bakery and Mordecai Beverage Co. Miso Ramen Bar looks a bit bland from up front but inside things get better! A large open space, concrete floors, 2-tops with black metal chairs, and a large bar to the right. It’s spun up a bit more modern and industrial vs. the typical dark polished woods of a traditional ramen shop or izakaya.
Miso Ramen Bar, Raleigh – Menu, Food
The menu here is pretty standard: 8 or so ramen options, rice bowls, some Japanese appetizers, and of course, beers and adult bevvies! My visits have been primarily for lunch and for starters, the chicken skewers are solid. Served on a slate sheet, these grilled treats are a bit different than expected, dark meat chicken tightly packed on a stick, I’m not sure what chicken cut they are using here! If you’re thinking chicken satay, you may be surprised when ordering these.
For entrees, the tonkotsu ramen is excellent, featuring a rich, creamy broth and well filled with noodles, cha-siu, greens, enoki mushrooms, and more. The tempura udon features three large shrimp tempura soaking in a dashi-flavored broth over chewy noodles, soft egg, bamboo shoots, and baby bok choy. A delicious bowl that’s stocked with extras although I’m still trying to figure out the concept of putting crisp, fried tempura shrimp into a broth!
Miso Ramen Bar, Raleigh – Service, Conclusion
Service at Miso Ramen has been very good during my visits. They get the food out to you quickly and check in on you regularly. So how does Miso Ramen Bar compare to other options in the area? There’s actually a lot of competition for ramen near downtown Raleigh now, ranging from Miso Ramen to Gen Ramen, Daijobu, Tonbo Ramen, and other Japanese restaurants that offer it on their menu. But Miso Ramen is pretty good and right in the mix with the other options. I’ve actually been a been a bit disappointed of late around ramen joints in the Triangle. A good bowl of ramen should be about well-prepared noodles, broth with some depth and some high quality add-ons versus a bowl of add-ons which in my opinion, takes away from the delicious simplicity of this dish.
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