Over the summer a new establishment made its way onto the scene in Uptown, located right next to Dynomite Burgers and Sushi: Otani Noodle, immediately notable for its small size. It contains a few tables on one side and the kitchen on the other, and it is comparable to the size of Chopstick.  

The menu is sparse, containing only 10 entrées, all different variations on noodle bowls.  I feel that this is for the better for the restaurant, as it gives you a more focused approach to choosing what to order. There is an even more minimal drinking menu containing a wide variety of sodas, teas, water and a unique selection of Japanese soda (for a higher price).  

For my experience at Otani Noodle, I decided to try out the best seller of the restaurant, the “Pork Belly” meal, containing strips of pork belly, seaweed, scallions, mushrooms, tonkatsu broth and the item that ties them all together: ramen.

The portion size of the meal was rather massive, with the entire bowl filled to the brim, with a special oval like spoon and chopsticks presented with the meal.  From the get-go, the signature tonkatsu broth gives it all a refreshing, well-seasoned taste, with all the pork, ramen, mushrooms and scallions enhancing the whole experience.  Everything was immensely scrumptious paired with the Japanese soda, specifically the orange flavor, that refreshes even at its small size. The key to the entire meal is that everything is fresh and readily made to the best of the cook’s abilities.  The meal was fantastic, with the quaintness of the small space and the minimalist menu adding to a more personal, albeit enclosed, eating experience at Otani Noodle.

Restaurant: “Otani Noodle”

Price Range: $7.95-$11.95

Rating: 5 out of 5