Ramen Gaijin has been on my list for quite some time. I had read some great things about it, and I kept thinking, “Whenever I’m in Sebastopol, I’ll have to check it out.” Well, I can tell you that I don’t really get to Sebastapol very often. So the first time we ended up near there to try a winery, I immediately suggested ramen for lunch. We headed over when they opened and luckily, there was still seating available, but there were a lot of people who had booked (so I would highly recommend booking ahead if you decide to go).
I was driving, so had nothing to drink, but my partner decided to have some sake, and he was recommended a really great sake that aligns with what we usually like. We also decided to share some of the homemade pickles. I went for the tantanmen ramen (as it’s usually one of my favorites), and my partner ordered the special which was a beef ramen served with braised short rib.
When the pickles arrived, they looked amazing as they were vibrant and full of color. They looked so appetizing that we couldn’t wait to dig in. And dig in we did! They all tasted absolutely amazing. The shitake mushrooms were the clear favorite, but the variety and flavor of the pickled vegetables were absolutely spot on!
Finally, the bowls of ramen came out! They both looked fantastic. The bowls are deceptively small looking, and there is quite a good amount of toppings that really makes the ramen very inviting. The beef ramen used their rye noodle, while the pork ramen used a more traditional noodle. To be honest, the beef ramen was the best, and sadly my choice was subpar. But only slightly, because the tantanmen was also one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve eaten. The rye noodles really had an extra depth of flavor to them that really went well with the rich, beef broth. The pork ramen not only had the ground pork, but an amazingly melt-in-the-mouth piece of pork belly. And the egg was also a winner!
Every mouthful of food from Ramen Gaijin was really impressive. The ramen was some of the best I’ve had in the bay area, or even other parts of the world. Someday, I’ll make it to Japan, and I’ll finally know how it compares to the real thing, but if you want an amazing bowl of soup noodles without as much travel, Ramen Gaijin is definitely a destination stop in Sebastopol.
Score: 5/5
Recommendation: Pickles, beef ramen. Probably anything on the menu to be honest, but I’ve got a whole lot more to try!
Ramen Gaijin
6948 Sebastopol Ave
Sebastopol, CA 95472
