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Why can’t you get a decent bowl of ramen in London?

With this question in mind, I thought I would take the opportunity to survey a random group of people at The London Japanese Meet-up on Tuesday.

The kind of love and respect for ramen shown in the video above seems unknown in London. People I spoke to sadly did not report very good experiences of ramen here. Soba, yes. Udon, fine. Ramen in London? No.

If you know of a great place for ramen in London, please let me know!

The only person brave enough to recommend any London ramen, Keiko quite likes Ryo on Brewer Street. They do have a pretty good ramen menu… the best of the bunch?

But let me tell you about some favourite Japanese restaurants of some people I spoke to (non-ramen specific!).

Chika recommended Yo Sushi. But that’s because she works there! Go to a busy branch, and order rather than taking what’s on trundling around the kaiten belt.

Gil rather fancies Nobu.

Kazu couldn’t say enough about Asakusa restaurant at Mornington Crescent. He especially loves the Agedashi-dofu and Yudebuta Ninniku Miso.

Photo courtesy of the Japanese Conversation Group Website

It’s almost time to celebrate the blooms of spring, and appreciate the finer things in life (like beer and sushi) under the cherry blossoms. The annual Japan Society Conversation Group Hanami takes place on Saturday 19th April at 1pm under the cherry trees near Albert’s Memorial in Hyde Park. The JET Alumni Association is invited, so this will be a great day for international relations! Bring a picnic and something to sit on.

This event takes place rain or shine. If the weather proves uncooperative, the Queen’s Arms pub (on Queens Gate Mews) will provide lashings of Kirin beer.