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Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 9/14/2005
Rating: 8.5
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This is my first visit to Do-Henkotsu but apparently Terry has a frequent flyer card here. He must have had 6 stamps on the card? The place is tiny yet offering a homely feel to it. The restaurant seats roughly 24 people which is probably what you encounter in Japan. Everything about his place speaks Japan, odd flavors of soda, menus posted on the wall for people who read japanese, japanese television, and magazines by the door. I think everyone in this place eating was Japanese with the exception of Terry and myself.
I ordered the regular ramen which is topped off with greens onions, wakame seaweed, bean sprouts, thinly sliced pork, and finally this super small bowl of rice (2 spoons worth?). Broth was more tame and less saltier than other ramen houses. Pork looked like boiled bacon (See pic #6) and havent seen it this thin at any other place. Neither the broth or pork stood out for me, I thought the noodles was the clear winner here. The color was more of a yellowish color and it was served pleasantly firm. Even when I got to the bottom of my bowl the noodles kept their firmness.
All in all, the atmosphere and good bowl of ramen made Do-Henkotsu a winner in my book. Places like this are hard to come by and you visit if you want to experience something new and exciting. Afterwards, if you still have room in your stomach, try visiting Clover Bakery a couple of doors down.
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Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 739
Reviewed: 4/18/2005
Rating: 8
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This is Eddies favorite Ramen place so I had to try it out. Its a crowded cramped location that looks very family-oriented. The service was good and our food was brought out quickly. I went for the large Ramen. The bowl was massive and filled with the good stuff.
The noodles were about average, nothing exciting. The other ingredients were also up to par, no complaints. The real winner here was the broth. It was HIGHLY flavorful and exciting. I had to keep lapping that stuff up to finish the entire bowl of it.
I would definitely return here just for the broth. At over $8 it was a little pricey for the large but in this case it seemed worth it.
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Reviewer: Phuc
Total Reviews: 13
Reviewed: 8/14/2005
Rating: 9.5
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I haven't had too much experience with ramen places, this is actually the first place I've been to, and my favorite of all the ramen houses (so far.)
On the menu, they claim to import the ramen directly from Tokushima, Japan. They also say the broth takes 24-72 hours to make, and the pork also takes a while. The place itself is really small and they have Japanese flyers hanging around and the T.V. is playing japanese sumo wrestling and the like.
I've been here four times and everytime I got the ramen with the pork (forgot what they really called it.) Why get the same thing? Because it is that good. I like the firmness of them ramen, the broth looks like it will be over salty, but the taste is just right. Although the pork is really good, they don't give too much of it. You also get a little bowl of rice on the side and sometimes a hardboiled egg. They also have some stir fried items and fried rice, which I also heard was really good.
I've tried Ramen Halu and also Tokyo Ramen by McCarthy Ranch (who makes their own fresh noodles) and while they both have bigger servings and also tastes really good, I personally think Do-Henkotsu tastes better, which is what matters most.
One thing is that Do-Henkotsu and Ramen Halu are closed a lot of times, you just gotta come at the right time. Don't worry, you'll be rewarded. |
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Reviewer: ne00
Total Reviews: 187
Reviewed: 8/17/2005
Rating: 9
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Ramen? Yes ramen noodles, but not the fake ones you purchase in supermarkets and make your own but the authentic ramen from Japan.
Hours: Closed Mondays
Visa and MasterCard accepted.
Bowl Sizes: The larger choice gets you a bit more noodles and soup.
History:
Even though Japanese ramen lovers are aware of what 'Tokushima Ramen' is, they will get surprised to hear there is a 'Tokushima Ramen' specialty shop outside of Japan.
Tokushima Ramen (formerly known as Do-Henkotu) opened in 2001 by Mr. Masuda, a chef from Tokushima prefecture (located south-west in Japan).
Tokushima is hidden away in the back. Theres another Japanese restaurant overlooking the parking lot (Tomisushi), but the treasure is hidden in the back.
Get there early as the small restaurant have limited number of tables and counter seats. The restaurants atmosphere reflects one in Japan as the two televisions play Japanese news and posters of Japanese arts hang. There are plenty of Japanese books and magazines for those waiting for a table.
The lunch menu and dinner menu are of the same. The base ramen are the same, the difference lies what is placed in with the ramen. Choices range from veggies, pork, deep fried tofu, dumplings, or the ever so popular slow roasted pork strips that melts in your mouth. You choose whether you want small/medium or large size. The large size amounts to a bit more noodles and broth.
Every order of ramen arrives with a small bowl of rice. The portion of the rice is about a large spoonful and is meant for people to eat with their pork or broth. The rice is soft and sticky and a great compliment for those who chose the pork ramen dishes. Asking for more rice would typically add an extra rice charge to the bill. They used to serve the ramen with a free hard boiled egg. Now they dont even sell the egg. Also prices have increased 1.50 within the past year as the place was newly remodeled early this year.
For those who plan to frequent often, theres a frequent buyers card where after 15 stamps, one will receive a free medium basic ramen.
Service is erratic as when the place is busy its difficult for anyone to notice your water needs to be refilled. Drinks and Beer comes in a can or bottle and have no refills. For those wanting to try out Japanese style sodas or beer, which can be later purchased at the Japanese market within the shopping square.
Typically during lunch hours and dinner hours the place fills and sometimes theres a short wait. Friday nights are the busiest so try to arrive early.
Variety: good choice of ramen variety. Other non-ramen dishes available, such as Japanese style fried rice, appetizers, and other noodle dishes. No combination choices during lunch and extra cost for Kim Chee (spicy preserved vegetables).
Taste: Excellent broth and noodle texture. Get the pork as it's very tender. Eat the pork toppings with the sticky rice first before eating the ramen.
Service: Usually on top of things, sometimes require asking. Could be erratic during busy hours.
Cost: Pricey for lunch and reasonable for dinner.
Atmosphere: As if you were in a restaurant in Japan.
Parking: Plenty.
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Reviewer: wchane
Total Reviews: 148
Reviewed: 3/2/2007
Rating: 9
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I'm not sure how this nook of a restaurant had been hiding from me this entire time. When I first walked in, it felt as if I'd strolled into a ramen house in Japan. It's complete chaos in there; people seated in every possible corner and counter setting, the tiny tv streaming japanese sports, posters, travel brochures, magazines, you name it, and a line of people out the door. This place just looked good.
I ended up ordering the basic ramen which included ramen, pork, bamboo shoots, and a piece of roasted seaweed. We split a order of chicken kaarage.
One note is this place does not serve tea, just water, soda, beer, and sake.
The best part about the ramen was the broth; deep, rich, flavorful and complex. The noodles themselves were very thin but al dente and full of texture. They complimented the broth and ingredients nicely. The pork was not the sliced and braised examples I was used to but they look almost pan fried and added at the last minute. I didn't mind it too much just wished there was a slice or two more.
The chicken kaarage was delicious, the only better i've had was maybe sushi-house in palo alto, they fry them till they're golden brown and the batter has a hint of garlic. unexpected but tasty. Just watch out...they'll burn the roof of your mouth right off if you're not careful.
I can't wait to come back.
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Reviewer: Fuzz313
Total Reviews: 10
Reviewed: 12/28/2006
Rating: 9
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Saratoga Ave. is pretty much the Silicon Valley's 'Ramen Alley'. You got Ramen Halu closest to Steven's Creek and Ringer Hut on the far end. Squat in the middle is Do-Henkotsu. A small store operation, the restaraunt offers cramped counter and table service. If you're a pathophobe, then avoid the counter. You might get hit with ramen slurping aerosol generated by very happy customers.
Now Do-Henkotsu makes one mean bowl of soup and noodles. I've had most of the ramen variants in past visits, but wanted something more substantial but light on this chilly evening. Good thing they have entrees. Tonight's dinner was the Gindara Yuanyaki or broiled cod. For something around 11 bucks, you get a cod, salad, miso soup, rice, and pickles. Though very busy, the food arrived with the quickness. Salad was pretty staight forward iceberg-carrot mix with Thousand Island. I like the miso soup. A complex, slightly meaty mixture, that warmed the hands and the tummy. Rice has good fluffy/sticky ratio. The cod was a decent piece, though, I wished for a bigger portion. Broiled, it wasn't flakey, but delicate, almost buttery. Watch out for bones. Skin edges cooked up nice and crispy.
Escape the mall, get out of the cold, and head over to Do-Henkotsu for some good Japanese comfort food.
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