Tampopo Ramen - Tempe

This ramen shop makes its own noodles fresh, which is quite rare in the West. The noodles were cut a bit thinner than my preference, but they were still tasty. They managed to mask the scent of the kansui, although you can still detect it if you look closely. My soft-boiled egg was overcooked, but it was still acceptable. I would have liked the soup to have a bit more body. I visited during a quiet time, and my server kindly let me smell the fresh noodles and introduced me to the owner. While some aspects didn't align perfectly with my tastes, this shop earns high marks for its fresh noodles and the ability to demonstrate their quality. I tested their claims, and they were more than willing to prove themselves. They also offered a variety of other menu items. We tried the karaage, which was good, and they had Japanese mayo—a nice touch that some places lack. The prices were also very reasonable compared to other ramen spots, even those that didn’t have fresh noodles.

The food and service were fantastic. My mom and I walked in and were promptly acknowledged and seated. Our waitress was very kind, and our order was served quickly. The portion sizes were great for the price. For our first visit, it was awesome! I can't wait to come back to try the seafood bowl! This place was recommended by a friend.

I tried the spicy miso soup, and I found the broth to have a smooth flavor with a subtle hint of spice—not too hot. There wasn’t much meat in the soup, but all the ingredients complemented each other well. The eggs were delicious, and the noodles were thin with a medium level of softness. I feel like they could be slightly thicker, but that’s just my opinion. Overall, the taste was wonderfully smooth. It was about a third ingredients to two-thirds broth. I visited on a Sunday afternoon when it wasn't too busy, but it seems like a popular spot during the week, as I had tried to stop by once before and found it packed. It’s conveniently located right across from the Gold Bar coffee shop. It was a nice way to wind down the day.

Favorite ramen ever here! really frustrating they don't use any kind of food delivery service. Still worth it to drive and pick it up. I always get miso ramen with spicy noodles, love mixing in the karaage chicken

Tasted good and it came quickly so we were able to get in and out within 30 minutes.Food: 5/5