Bottega del Ramen

A new restaurant named Bottega del Ramen opened in via Vigevano, near the Navigli. It is a cozy place with red brick walls and a mezzanine that gives it space for a few more seats. At the entrance you’ll find two large tables for groups or to be used as “social tables“. According to the Japanese custom, the ramen is eaten in every hour of the day, in small restaurants where you share the table with other random people and you’re never alone.

As you can deduce by the place’s name the main attraction here is ramen, presented in ten variations including the ones without broth. The appetizers consist of otsumami, Japanese starters that include the typical gyoza dumplings, grilled or fried, or the chashu, pork and chicken meat marinated in soy sauce, and shrimp and vegetables tempura.

The ramen portions are big and, for a small surcharge, it’s possible to ask for extra ingredients. But they’re already very satisfying as they are. The curry ramen is really something new with its spicy, tasty broth. All the noodles are rigorously handmade: their freshness is the added value of the dish.

There are also alternatives for those who don’t love the house’s main dish: the don, rice bowls that can have strips of beef meat and tofu in them or braised pork with soy sauce and nitamago.

The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, in line with the idea that this meal must be consumed at the moment and in short time like the true Japanese people. If you are not fond of waiting, you can always opt for the take away service. An address to remember for this season. A place that will warm your colder days and will make you feel like you’re in Japan in the middle of Milan.