Ryotei Ramen - Crows Nest, Sydney.

Ryotei Ramen aka Ryo's is a neat little place in the North Shore right next to North Sydney Boys. This place is popular not only due to it's alluring bright orange fashion sense but also due to it's rich tonkotsu flavour in their soup. Usually at dinner time there is a tidy line of hungry patrons queuing up and eagerly peering into the shop windows for any signs of people leaving. Our group of regular rameners has been coming for years now and it is still a popular choice for dinner when we are stuck for ideas.

This little establishment has very authentic tasting ramen due to the thick and rich soup base but I must admit it is much better in Japan, naturally. The atmosphere is very cozy and reminds me of Japan especially the stuck up menus all over the walls and the decorative items they have put up around the room.


The queue at dinner time can sometimes go up to 40mins for larger groups as they only have 2 larger tables but for you guys, here comes the food.

The first dish to arrive was the Chicken cutlet Curry (Katsukaree). I am a very BIG fan of all types of curry and the one they serve here is a very tasty, unique version of Japanese curry. It has very good flavour and the combination of deep fried chicken and the red pickles just completes this dish. As typical of Japanese curries, it is not very spicy so it is suitable even for those anti-chilli people. The next to arrive was my Ramen noodles in Chicken Sesame soup with Tempura mix veges.

This dish has recently become my usual order from the "number 4" which is my favourite dish and I used to order it automatically with a pork rice ball.

The sesame soup leaves a pleasant sour tingling sensation on the tongue along with the crispy fried veges and chips makes it a most delicious dish. It is a special on the wall so look for the orange specials. The only improvement I can see for this dish is to add some soy-boiled eggs to it and then it would be absolute.

Next to come was my previous favourite dish the "number 4" which is negi miso tonkotsu something something. It comes with a big pile of Negi (spring-onions) which adds a nice dimension in the form of a cool fresh crunchy texture.


Last to arrive were the rice balls! 2 pork riceballs and 1 cod roe riceball.

What I normally do is add the riceball into my ramen soup as it adds extra texture and flavour ^^. All in all Ryos is a good treat and well worth the wait for the warm, wonderful, rich soups.

Ryo's Noodles
125 Falcon St, Crows Nest, Sydney
Tel: (02) 99550225

Open Thursday to Tuesday (closed Wednesdays)
Lunch 12.00pm-2.30pm
Dinner 5.00pm-10.00pm

FFichiban