Image credit: Edison Drake
Seemingly overnight, the weather has dropped to a damp and chilly 8 degrees, without so much as a word to those of us that want to pretend it’s still summer. The windows of my flat are beginning to show condensation that will no doubt evolve into frost in the upcoming weeks, and campus is littered with no doubt freezing students clinging to summery clothes. It therefore feels timely for me to return to my personal favourite ramen spot and indulge in something hot and brothy, whilst the infamous English weather does its best to wear me down.
The restaurant in question is Monohon Ramen in Old Street. I happen to know a substantial amount about the place, on account of visiting with a friend and wishing to sound knowledgeable about the restaurant I myself had recommended. The owner is an Englishman who spent time in Japan during the 90s before it was fashionable, basing his restaurant’s design off of the casual noodle bars that fill Osaka’s streets. There is a striking casualness to the place, no cliche Japanese cherry blossoms or gauche red lanterns. Instead, you get simple wooden panelling and an open bar that looks straight into the kitchen, so you can hungrily follow every new bowl being made and mournfully watch as it is sent to a different table. The premise of the place is very simple: It’s a restaurant that wants to serve you food.
But by God do they serve food well. Monohon proudly declares that all of its noodles are made fresh in house: the secret ingredient is apparently Japanese flour, something about higher alkali levels and protein content. Although I myself know nothing about the chemical composition of flour, the food scientists are clearly onto something. The noodles are addictively chewy and perfectly springy and the soft slice of pork that came with them was exactly what I needed. Disappointingly, the soft-boiled egg cost extra despite being a necessary highlight of the dish, but even so, the overall price came out to be around the average for a bowl of ramen in London, and the quality here is a guarantee.
Now some people might comment about convenience; how far it is from campus, how a late arrival will guarantee a queue, and about limited seating for larger groups, but to me, these are empty complaints. The food is worth the quick tube trip to Old Street station, and Old Street is a mere stone’s throw from Shoreditch where you can follow up a hearty ramen with delicious drinks. So, ignore the imaginary haters, and get yourself to Monohon. A single sip of that rich broth will quickly drown out any complaints.