Restaurant of the Month: Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen

South Bay Events presents its pick of the month for February 2012!

In 1958 a Japanese entrepreneur named Momofuku Ando dehydrates noodles into the shape of a small brick which can be boiled and peppered with a chicken flavor packet. In an instant, Top Ramen is born and the starving masses of struggling twenty something’s find sustenance and identity in a bowl of noodles. Ramen, which loosely means “pulled noodle,” circa the 21st century is something of a specialty meal that now requires the skill of a master. Meet Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen in Gardena, an authentic representation of Japanese food culture that cooks their thinner than average ramen noodles in a pork soup.

Near El Camino Junior College on Redondo Beach Blvd. in a very non-descript plaza sits a rite of passage for any noodle fan. Hakata Ramen boasts some serious ramen street credibility and samurai like devotion to the art of ramen. They stay open 365 days out of the year and the staff make sure to greet, serve, and sendoff every customer with positive energy. Seating is tight but efficient, there are bar stools, a couple booths, and a large wooden table with bench style seating. By no means is Hakata Ramen in Gardena a secret spot, in fact waiting is almost mandatory, lunch or dinner. Place a name and number of guests on the list near the door, then contemplate the perfect ramen order.

The magic of Hakata Ramen begins with the customization of bowl. Although there are other items on the menu and noodle combos that include a half order of fried rice or gyoza, Hakata style ramen is the reason folks endure a long wait. Before slurping begins, scribble noodle preferences on a piece of paper, like firmness of noodles, thickness of soup, amount of oil, and any additional toppings. Here’s the fun part. There’s a range of toppings to choose from, some more hearty than others like pork, wanton, or flavored egg. Other toppings add texture to the soup like corn, bean sprouts, and cod roe. Work in a pinch of spicy miso for a quick heat fix.

The name Shin-Sen-Gumi is now synonymous with various styles of Japanese cuisine like Yakatori and Shabu-Shabu, but probably best known for its flavorful rendition of an internationally known comfort food, ramen. Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen is located at 2015 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., #C, Gardena.