I’m back in Rochester for pre-Christmas Christmas! My family isn’t big on holidays anymore and while we celebrated Christmas we stopped doing real presents when I was 12 and haven’t had a tree since about then too. So, I decided to go to Christmas with Caleb’s family but wanted to stop in to see my parents before then as well because it feels wrong not to.

This trip I decided to make a Ramen run. Lack of food variety in Cortland makes me crave food hard when I’m back in Rochester but it’s still hard to go out because I miss my parents cooking too. One or two take out meals during my trips depending on length and this had to be the one.

LOCATION - 215 ALEXANDER ST., ROCHESTER, NY

I’ve been to this place before in the past (and written about it) but it popped up on my social media feed recently. They’ve expanded to different locations and increased their menu but I went to their first location and go the SPICY MISO TONKOTSU Ramen. I don’t recall this being on the menu before, and if it was I decided to try something else and save this for another trip so here I am. The spicy miso tonkotsu ramen is a creamy pork bone broth & miso paste with wavy noodles (of course), Chashu/Pork, Scallions & Sweet Corn topped with Ichimi Spice & Spicy Sesame Oil. I HAD to add AJITSUKE which is a Japanese Soft-Boiled Egg, Infused in a Soy-Sake Marinade (worth the $1.25).

This ramen didn’t fail me. While their origin is that the owner studied in Brooklyn ramen shops and decided to bring it to Rochester, I can’t say this is as good as restaurants that I’ve been to in NYC but for Rochester, this is it. The flavor is on point and the noodles are nice and chewy. This hits the spot and is of course elevated from instant ramen. This has everything I want too, chashu, corn, and egg, and a little kick to the broth. I wish this was available in Cortland. My life would be so happy.