JAPANESE TRADITIONAL RAMEN NOODLE SHOP
Overview
| Price Range | Cheap & cheerful |
|---|---|
| Ambience | Lively |
| Licence | This venue is licenced, This venue has BYO |
Products and specialities
Japanese cuisine
Noodles
Ramen
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks
Hours
- Mon -
- Tues -
- Wed -
- Thurs -
- Fri -
- Sat -
- Sun -
- HolidaysClosed
Reviews
I have yet to meet someone who does not have a good word to say about Tanpopo. Basically it’s word of mouth that led me to its doors. From its mouthwatering ramens to the gyoza most people are gushing about, one can find Tanpopo to be an amazing dining experience. Whether you’re studying late at uni and looking for something soothing during cold nights or just wanting to try what seems to be one of the best ramen places in Auckland, Tanpopo will surely not disappoint.
The best ramen in the entire city is literally two minutes walk from Vector Arena. This list tries to cover some cheap and cheerful options too and Tanpopo well and truly ticks that box - because hey, the ticket to the show you’re seeing probably cost you an arm and a leg anyway, am I right? This spot is great if you’re looking to escape the sometimes hectic numbers drawn to Britomart before Vector Arena shows, as it’s just at the corner of Anzac Ave and Beach Road (it’s the closest restaurant to Vector in this list!) It’s BYO wine and there’s a bottle store pretty much next door. A+ !!!
Firstly, just a bit of background on why these ramen hot spots are put in their designated places. For me, the standard by which I judge a ramen restaurant is the quality of their broth and their noodles. The toppings are great and all, but they can’t make up for a weak broth or poorly made noodles. Tonkotsu is the style I usually judge by, it’s the Kyushu style of ramen, made with a deep pork bone broth. It should be unctuous, fatty, porky, silky and pretty much just incredible, almost with the consistency of milk due to the dissolved fats. I will back Tanpopo as the best in the city right now. Anybody with anything bad to say about Tanpopo usually only complains about the higher end of the price scale (from $10-$17), the decor (but you don’t go for that, right?), or that they give fewer toppings. Most places with an average broth will make up for it by giving you lots of sliced pork on top, whereas Tanpopo just gives you a few slices and you can pay for extra. Therefore keeping all this in mind each is graded by broth quality first, then noodle freshness second - so Tanpopo takes top spot in my books.
