Mendoki Ramen - Costa Mesa

Starchtrade · October 5, 2020, 8:20pm

I recommend 405 ramen multi-bang going south to north:

Mendoki (Costa Mesa)
Tao (Buena Park)
Josui (Gardena)
Venice Ramen (Marina Del Rey)

JeetKuneBao · October 5, 2020, 9:04pm

How do you like Iki btw?

hanhgry · October 5, 2020, 9:29pm

@JeetKuneBao wow! Kashiwa’s options sound really good. I’m excited to see the vegan and vegetarian ramen options popping up. I still need to try Iki Ramen’s veg ramen. I make a point to try the veg options at places that you wouldn’t expect to offer any, because it can help encourage restaurants to keep the options around.

Starchtrade · October 5, 2020, 9:37pm

Still haven’t been to Iki.

Fair or not, I dismissed them out of hand for a few reasons:

pictures were not especially delicious-looking
menu items were not original
they seemed to gain their popularity through their n/naka relation and influencers

I will give them a shot one day. I haven’t been eating ramen at all recently–the Mendoki visits were a bit of a fluke.

Hungrydrunk · October 5, 2020, 9:45pm

Iki Ramen’s Tai ramen was really good and seemed pretty original (to me)

JeetKuneBao · October 5, 2020, 9:55pm

Both of those options sound really good.

May I recommend Otafuku’s Ume and Vegetable Seiro Soba and Ichimiann’s Ume and Shiso Soba! (Might be bonito in the broth my apologies if this is against your diet)

J_L · January 28, 2021, 10:17pm

Bump. My OC peeps: Is Mendoki open for business?

Starchtrade · January 28, 2021, 10:49pm

No, as of last week, they are taking a temporary break, unfortunately.
Hopefully, removal of outdoor dining restrictions will result in them reopening!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKR692NhcFh/

[Jan 20] We are temporary closed from today. Thank you so much for supporting us since we opened restaurant here. We hope to see you soon again. We promise we will come back someday near future. Please stay safe and strong.

J_L · January 28, 2021, 11:29pm

Thanks much for that intel!

Starchtrade · January 28, 2021, 11:35pm

When they do reopen they are definitely worth a visit!

In other ramen intel, Keizo Shimamoto of Ramen Shack and Shimamoto Noodle in NYC has come back to his childhood home (OC) to roost.
He is currently collaborating on a DIY ramen kit concept called Ramen Tayosei.
Shimamoto is definitely someone to keep an eye on. He is sure bring his skills & experience to SoCal.
“How?” “When?” “Where?” are all questions that remain TBD.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKad4tdBkq8/