Hello guys! Hope you are had a well rested break. I went home to Sydney for the break to visit family. I also met my new gorgeous one month old Niece. Truly blessed to welcome a new addition to my family. I had my typical list planned out to visit Hurricanes Bar & grill, Gumshara, Menya Mappen, & El Jannah. As soon as I heard Ippudo opened I knew it topped my list to visit. Like other fellow ramen addicts I am lured by a new ramen restaurant.

I nagged the Mr like mad the first few days making sure we fit in a visit. Anything for ramen! On twitter everyone talked about the the horrible lines so I made sure we will beat the dinner rush and arrived at 5:45pm. There was about 9 groups in front of us so the line didn’t seem that bad. Luckily within 5 minutes a lady appeared asking if anyone had 2 people. Thankfully we were the next in line for a 2 people sitting area.

Once we walked in we are quickly greeted by warm welcoming of shouts by the staff! We sat on a long benches shared between groups.

We debated about splitting the pork bun in half but I insisted one each. Boy was I wrong I think we needed 2 or 3 each! These pork buns are so lovely in taste. I can taste the tiny bit of spice and I have to say definitely a winner over the momofuku Seiobo’s ones. Pork buns are priced at $4 each

Inside I continued to hear shouts every time a new group enters and there is also shouts when a bowl of ramen is ready. Really love this for service and atmosphere.

For noodles Ippudo serves the Hakata noodles. The white noodles rather than the yellow noodles typically used (yellow noodles which can be found at gumshara, menya, ramen kan, Ryo’s). I have spoken to some ramen lovers and it seems like many preferred the yellow noodles, myself included but I don’t mind the white noodles. We were given the option how the noodles were cooked soft, medium or firm. For both of us we went for firm.

Ramen here does not come cheap but I can understand with location comes with a price. Despite the Price I am sure many will return over and over again to get their fix.
There are three ramen choices in the menu
- The original tonkotsu
- Tonkotsu with miso and garlic oil
- Tonkotsu with spiced miso and minced pork.

Each can be ordered with an egg or/and charshu for extra cost. Mr picked the first and I picked the second with both egg options.

The menu showing three types of ramen

Shiromaru Motoaji Tamago (egg). Ippudo original tonkotsu broth served with thin noodles, pork loin, cabbage, black mushroom & shallots with flavoured egg ($17). The broth was super flavoursome and amazing! Definitely suited my tastebuds. However the broth tasted really eggy after all the noodles was polished. In the beginning didn’t have such a strong egg taste. Bit odd!

Akamaru Shinaji with tamago (egg). Ippudo original tonkotsu broth enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil. Served with thin noodles, pork belly, black mushroom & shallots ($18). Super love the added miso and garlic oil, for preference I prefer this version due to the added garlic oil. Definitely brings it up to another level. What was disappointing in both ramen was the egg was almost hard boiled. Given another 1 minute on the heat it would be pretty much hard boiled, my general preference is a gooey egg. I also would like the eggs cut in half rather than the egg served whole.

Now I am sure we are all left with the question Gumshara or Ippudo? Both are unique in their own ways. I heard many prefer the Ippudo broth since they have found Gumshara’s broth too thick. If you haven’t tried the thin broth at Gumshara you are missing out! I usually get my thin broth since the thick broth is was too heavy. To answer I can’t really pick I can happily take any of the two any day. If only we can mix ippudo broth and gumshara broth with gooey egg + yellow noodles!

Level 5 Westfield Sydney 188 Pitt St
Sydney, NSW 2000