On a recent Sunday, what had initially been a planned trip to TFS (The Filling Station) in Westwood turned into a completely new plan, with the opposite cuisine of TFS as the weather drastically changed. What started as a sunny afternoon suddenly became the kind of day where wind slices through jackets and settles into our skin. Our fingers were numb, our hair whipped in every direction, and our only thought was finding something to eat that would chase the cold out of our bones. After much debate, we finally settled on Ramen Azuma in Englewood, hoping something warm and slurpable could bring us back to life.
As we walked into this Japanese restaurant, the smell of miso and fresh noodles filled our olfactory. However, the arbitrary decor did not match the intriguing aroma. The actual atmosphere felt industrial, with exposed pipes, cold concrete floors, and wooden tables and chairs, but honestly, the promise of warmth was our main concern. With no reservation, we were able to walk in and be seated right away. Although there were not many tables, the option for takeout meant there was no need for additional seating. They gave us the choice of sitting at the bar, in booths that line the walls, or at tables that were the center of the small room.
We decided there was no need to be squished in the corner, so we marched straight to the table, planted straight in the center of the restaurant, ready to be the main attraction (we thought we would somehow receive our food quicker and the waiters would be more attentive). The moment we slid into our seats, hunger took over. Without wasting a second, we snatched the menus and flipped them open, eyes darting across every option like we hadn’t eaten in days.
To get the most authentic experience possible, we ordered a bunch of things to share. While our waiter was not very attentive, she and the other waiters were accommodating, as they brought us three small bowls and spoons so we could share our ramen without cross-contaminating. Considering the cold outside, the last thing any of us needed was getting sick on top of being frozen.
Naturally, we gravitated toward the drinks first, even though they were cold and definitely not what our frozen hands needed. We ordered Lychee tea, Thai tea, and two Taro teas. Unfortunately, the drinks were overwhelmingly sugary. Had we ventured beyond a few sips, the excessive sweetness would have become truly unbearable. The drinks came out to $5.50 each, which felt overpriced compared to the food menu. Why is a drink almost the same amount as an appetizer?
Once the appetizer arrived, things turned around quickly. The cucumber salad (which the restaurant calls Addicting Cucumbers) lived up to its name. Bursting with cold, bright flavors that did the opposite of warming us, but were delicious enough that we did not care. They are the perfect bite-sized refresher, and definitely our favorite item of the night. The pork gyoza, on the other hand, was the kind of comfort we had been craving: hot, crisp, and savory, sending steam up as we took the first bite. They were Hannah’s favorite bite (she devoured three gyozas, leaving the rest of us with just one to try). The dumplings were perfectly fried on the bottom, and the sweet dipping sauce was a perfect pairing. The last starter we got was the ebi katsu buns, which consisted of fluffy buns and a crispy, breaded shrimp cutlet. Though the buns were fresh-tasting, we would not order the dish again because it lacked flavor. All the apps were fairly priced: cucumbers at $5, and buns and gyoza at $6 each.
For entrees—the most filling part of the meal—we indulged in tonkotsu, which was $12.50, and chicken miso that came to $13.50. Although both noodles had a similar appearance, containing sliced pork, scallions, and kikurage mushrooms, the flavor was entirely different, filling all of our taste buds. The tonkotsu had an additional egg, which none of us touched because it looked unappealing. Although the eggs were off-putting, the salty noodles completely made up for it. Knowing that the next morning we would wake up with puffy eyes did not stop us from finishing all the noodles. After we demolished the tonkotsu, our attention turned toward the chicken miso, which included menma bamboo, a topping that was new to our food palate. Unlike the salty touch of tonkotsu, the chicken miso tasted like a savory soy sauce. Bite after bite, we could feel ourselves thawing out.
Though we were stuffed from all the dishes, we knew we had to finish the night with some dessert, so we ordered the Japanese waffle ice cream. It came out quickly, was cut into four, which was fitting as there were four of us, and was a perfect end to the night. The waffles were thin and slightly crunchy, with a thin chocolate layer coating the vanilla ice cream. Was it cold? Yes, but sweet enough that it did not matter.
After one too many sugary sips and more shared plates than we care to admit, Ramen Azuma proved itself to be worth the unexpected detour. While the decor and drinks fell short, the addictive cucumber, perfectly crisp gyoza, and rich, salty broth more than compensated. By the time we scraped the final noodles from our bowls and polished off our waffle ice cream, we were warm, satisfied, and pleasantly full. Ramen Azuma may not be the flashiest spot in town, but if you’re chasing comfort food on a cold day, it hits exactly where it needs to—right in the soul.
