When I was told that Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya sat in the spot of what used to be Shiro Izakaya, I was shocked as I felt that Shiro had really punched above its weight when it came to food quality. It even brought the Ramen Burger to Perth!! Needless to say its time has passed and the start of an interesting ramen place excites me equally. This latest Japan import is a new contender in the local ramen scene. Playing its authenticity card in a premium location, does Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya deliver?
First, the ordering process. Super simple with the modern touchscreen system replicating the ticketing booth’s of Japan. A high degree of customisability and toppings makes eating at Kizuki Ramen a bliss even for the fussiest of eaters. That day I tried Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya’s pride and joy, the famous Tonkotsu Ramen. To do that, I ordered the Double Tonkotsu.
My noodles were cooked “normal” with the broth's sodium level “normal”. Do two “normals” make one right? For starters I loved the kick the broth served up. That amazing thick porky broth was superbly hearty and tasty from the many hours. Kizuki’s Double Tonkotsu also comes with heaps of garlic so you can actually see it floating amongst the lard on the soup which gives it a fragrance that cuts through the meatiness. Chashu was tender and melted in my mouth immediately. Surprising considering the thickness of it! Noodles carried the right amount of bite. Enjoyable! The egg was faultless though I think if they had cut it, the food would look better. I knew I would mess it up if I tried to cut it so I did not even bother.
A really quick hit and run lunch that cost me $18. Was it worth the buck? But before we go there, lets just set the ground the Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya served some amazing ramen. I have heard previous feedbacks saying its too salty etc, but salt is a matter of preference. In fact, most restaurants in Chinatown load up on sodium too so for me this was comparable. The Tonkotsu broth at Kizuki Ramen had a really nice garlicky punch that I enjoyed and its richness was well-toned to my palate. If you are looking for Tonkotsu, this might be it! Price point though is definitely on the higher side of things. Back when Dosukoi was open, it set the price point for ramen at $10. It was one of the cheapest ramen in town while the Nao Ramen establishment sat on a “pricey” $13. With new places charging $15-18 a bowl, I suspect die-hard fans will go all out to try the latest in town. But can these new ramen joints beat the classics for longevity? Only time will tell. I know for me that the Tonkatsu alone is worth a return to Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya. In fact, this has got to be the best new ramen in town.
