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Ramen burgers are here!

By Catherine Toth Fox • January 15, 2014 • Food

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The latest food fad has finally hit the Islands — but just today only.

Keizo Shimamoto (@goramen), the mastermind behind the uber-popular Ramen Burgers, is serving up burgers sandwiches between his signature ramen noodle buns from 11 a.m. today at Taste Table in Kakaako.

And they’ve only prepped 700 burgers, so when they’re sold out, they’re sold out.

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Here are those noodle buns.

This is the first time Shimamoto has been to Hawaii to serve what has turned into a national phemon. Copycat ramen (and saimin) burgers have popped up on menus everywhere — including here at Tanaka Ramen — and people have been lining up to try this new twist on an American classic.

Last night Taste held a invite-only event to sample the Ramen Burger — and one with roast pork created by chef Mark “Gooch” Noguchi — that lured foodies and ramen fiends from around the island.

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Here’s Gooch’s ramen burger creation.

Here’s what last night’s sneak preview looked like — and maybe it will entice you to make the trek to Kakaako — and brave the lines — today:

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Shimamoto, who hails from New York City, was in the kitchen with his chef, Paul, and his sister-in-law, Miho. They were slamming on the grill, making ramen burgers for the folks who had been lining up since 5 p.m.

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Honolulu Star-Advertiser food writer Nadine Kam (@nadinekam) took a huge bite of the OG Ramen Burger. The secret is in the sauce, which takes about six hours to prepare, Shimamoto says.

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Here were some of the Ramen Burger fans who turned up to sample the menu. Notice we’re all smiling!

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Here’s Hisae Uki of Sun Noodle, which supplies the ramen noodles, and Shimamoto in the kitchen. I may have to book another trip to NYC soon…

Ramen Burgers will be available today only, from 11 a.m. until they’re sold out, at Taste Table in Kakaako.

goochHawaiiHisae UkiKeizo ShimamotoMark NoguchiNadine KamRamenRamen Burgersramen noodle bunsTaste Table
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Catherine Toth Fox

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11 Comments

  • Reply dbjack January 15, 2014 at 9:16 am

    Back left corner is not really smiling is he? What would the frown look like? Got to try that place because it looks delicious.

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 15, 2014 at 11:22 am

      Well, it’s only being sold today — and that’s it. Gotta go to NYC to sample it!

      • Reply David Jackson January 15, 2014 at 11:36 am

        Don’t get me started on NYC… Got to figure out to make it at home.

        • Reply matt January 22, 2014 at 8:33 am

          DJ, one pack of ramen cooked per instructions *with broth packet). drain and cool. mix one egg into the cooled noodles. put the noodles into your mold (can use big ramekins or other appropriately shaped bowls but I use muffintop pans. makes the buns kind of thin but you use what you got). use a weight or another bowl or another pan to press the compress the buns in the fridge overnight. carefully remove the pressed buns out of the molds and fry until crispy.

          • Catherine Toth January 24, 2014 at 10:35 am

            Wow, thanks for this!

  • Reply Glenn D January 15, 2014 at 11:06 am

    Glad to hear that the infamous ramen burger made it to the 808. I must tell you those ramen ‘buns’ are probably worth 2 bowls of ramen. Now that is a lot of noodles. BTW, is that Olena Heu of KHON in the last pic?

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 15, 2014 at 11:23 am

      Yep, that’s Olena! I think she had two burgers! LOL

  • Reply Annoddah Dave January 15, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    CAT: Is the ramen part like cake noodle you find in Chinese restaurants?

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 24, 2014 at 10:36 am

      It has the consistency of cake noodles, but they are ramen noodles, for sure. Made by Sun Noodles especially for Keizo.

  • Reply Eric January 15, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    Is the sauce cooked into the burger & ramen or just added after it’s cooked? Looks interesting. Where is it available in NYC?

  • Reply M January 16, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Hello Cat!
    I couldn’t get one, some of us has to work. lol

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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