Marukin Ramen

Marukin Ramen is a Tokyo-based chain of ramen restaurants.[1]

Marukin Ramen
Restaurant information
Food typeJapanese

In 2021, two Marukin locations in Portland, Oregon, became known as Kinboshi Ramen.

Description

Marukin Ramen is a ramen shop based in Tokyo. There were nine locations in the Greater Tokyo Area, as of 2016.[2]

Portland, Oregon

Marukin operated two locations in Portland, Oregon, in Old Town Chinatown's Pine Street Market (housed in the United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Building) and in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood. Willamette Week's Elise Herron described the Buckman location as "sleek, packing dark-stained family-style tables along the length of the building, which it splits with Thai chicken-and-rice phenom" Nong's Khao Man Gai.[3][4]

The menu had vegetarian, vegan, and curry options.[5] The vegan Shoyu red ramen has tofu, vegetables, and mushrooms.[6] Marukin also served dumplings, fried chicken and karaage,[7][8] onigiri rice balls with Japanese pickles,[9] tonkotsu pork broth, beer, sake, and wine.[10][11] In 2016, Matthew Korfhage of Willamette Week wrote, "Marukin keeps it simple—counter-service ramen with a few sides—and unlike almost every other shop in town, it make its constantly improving, firm-textured noodles by hand at its own shop."[12]

History

Masa Hayashi and Hiroshi Kusuda are co-owners.[13] David Rademacher is a U.S. partner.[14][15][16]

In Portland, executive chef Masaji Sakai joined head chef Mayumi Hijikata.[2]

Kinboshi Ramen
Kinboshi Ramen
Exterior of the Southeast Ankeny restaurant, 2021
Restaurant information
Food typeJapanese
CityPortland
StateOregon
CountryUnited States
Websitekinboshiramen.com

Marukin opened two shops in Portland in 2016.[13][17][18] According to the Portland Tribune, the Pine Street location was "sought out to honor Old Town's Japanese heritage".[19] The two shops became known as Kinboshi Ramen in 2021.[20][21]

Reception
Interior of Kinboshi Ramen in southeast Portland, 2021

In 2016, Benjamin Tepler of Portland Monthly said "Marukin Ramen is arguably doling out the best ramen in the city, with rotating broths, magnificent noodles, and solid snacks, karaage to onigiri". He said of the Buckman location: "The long, crimson-hued space has attracted lines out the door since softly opening in March. Luckily, Marukin turns out its food with lightening-fast efficiency—under five minutes from iPad swipe to communal table".[9]

Willamette Week's Matthew Korfhage wrote in 2017:

Marukin's tonkotsu is nonetheless in a class by itself in Portland—slightly light for the form, avoiding both indelicate porky sweetness and the gut bomb afflicting lesser tonkotsus, without sacrificing any depth of flavor. The effect is like an elephant riding a unicycle, terrifying and amazing in the bigness of its balance. If you like spicy, get the red version: Marukin has lately dialed in its chili levels to perfection.[22]

Korfhage included restaurant's tonkotsu in Willamette Week's 2018 list of "our favorite noodle bowls and plates in Portland for less than $15" and said, "Every broth served at Marukin is excellent—spicy, miso, shio, whatever... But it's all about that deep, hazy, porky tonkotsu shoyu bone broth... It feels impossible in both its delicacy and its depth, digging deep into the marrow of comfort."[23][24] In 2017, the newspaper's Martin Cizmar wrote, "Marukin has wowed us since opening since opening its first stateside shop here. When we ate 39 different bowls around the city last year, Marukin came out on top in tonkotsu and made a strong showing elsewhere."[25]

Thrillist has said, "Marukin's simplicity is notable -- the bowl is not overly loaded with meat and veggies, relying on the impeccably seasoned broth and handcrafted noodles to satisfy ramen lovers and convert those poor, sad, lonely ramen skeptics. In short, Portland’s noodle game just got bumped up a notch."[26] The website's Dan Schlegel called Marukin an "essential" restaurant for Buckman in a 2016 list of Portland's 11 "best neighborhoods for eating".[27] Alex Frane included Marukin in the website's 2020 list of the "best spots to slurp ramen" in Portland.[28] Marukin was a runner-up in the People's Choice category at the Whiskey and Ramen Festival in 2017.[25] The Daily Hive included Marukin in a 2021 list of 7 "spots in Portland that serve up slurp-worthy ramen".[6]

Seiji Nanbu included Kinboshi in Eater Portland's 2022 overview of "where to find knockout ramen in Portland and beyond".[29] In 2022, Willamette Week included Kinboshi's chicken paitan ramen in a list of the city's "souper stars".[30]

See also

References
  1. "Portland's New Best Ramen Place Is Straight From Japan". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. Bakall, Samantha (2016-03-04). "First look: Japanese ramen chain Marukin's first U.S. restaurant in Southeast Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  3. "Noodles". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  4. So, Adrienne (2016-05-13). "Noshin' on Noodles at Portland's Marukin Ramen". Sip Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  5. "A ramen restaurant in each state". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  6. "7 spots in Portland that serve up slurp-worthy ramen | Dished". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  7. "Marukin Ramen - Downtown - Portland, OR". The Infatuation. 2022-08-23. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  8. "Marukin Ramen". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  9. "Unbeatable Bowls at Marukin Ramen". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  10. "Two New Portland Ramen Shops Take the Noodle Soup Beyond Japan". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  11. "Huge Food Hall Pine Street Market Opens in Downtown Portland". The Daily Meal. 2016-05-11. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  12. "Why Are Tokyo Ramen Shops Suddenly Taking Over Portland?". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  13. Russell, Michael (2016-01-19). "Japanese ramen chain Marukin opening two Portland shops". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  14. "Can Ramen Conquer Fast Casual? | QSR magazine". www.qsrmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  15. Andrea Damewood. "Marukin's Miraculous Noodle Machine". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  16. Tannler, Nancy (April 1, 2018). "Marukin Ramen". The Southeast Examine.
  17. Bamman, Mattie John (2016-03-03). "Japanese Ramen Restaurant Marukin Softly Opens Tomorrow, Interior Revealed". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  18. Bamman, Mattie John (2016-01-19). "Tokyo's Marukin Ramen Chain Announces Second Portland Location". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  19. Anderson, Jennifer. "Portland joins food hall revolution". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  20. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2021-06-08). "The Portland Outposts of Japanese Ramen Chain Marukin Are Now Known as Kinboshi Ramen". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  21. "Foodie Friday: Kinboshi Ramen". KOIN.com. 2021-06-25. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  22. "We Tried 39 Bowls of Portland Ramen—These Are the Very Best, By Style". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  23. "Our Favorite Noodle Bowls and Plates in Portland for Less than $15". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  24. "Marukin Ramen". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  25. "Han Oak, Marukin Take Home Top Honors at Portland's First Whiskey and Ramen Festival". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  26. "Marukin Ramen". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  27. "The 11 Best Neighborhoods for Eating in Portland, Ranked". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  28. "The Best Spots to Slurp Ramen in Portland". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  29. Nanbu, Seiji (2016-04-06). "Where to Find Knockout Ramen in Portland and Beyond". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  30. "These Are Portland's Souper Stars". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
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