Solving Life Problems with Ramen

Last Sunday, I found this cool Ramen (dry, non-soup based style) place at Sri Petaling called Menya Hanabi. I went for their signature dish, the Nagoya Mazesoba, a dry Ramen served with toppings of minced meat, lettuce, seaweed, a raw egg yolk and chasu (braised pork). This was my first time eating a Ramen which was not a broth/soup based. You know what? It was fantastic!

Image was shot with Olympus PEN E-P5 and M.Zuiko 17mm F1.8

I remember back in the days when I was working in Olympus, I had opportunities to travel to Japan for business trips. The common question which I have asked my then Japanese colleagues was - "what is your favourite Japanese food, being a Japanese yourself? Or, in other words, what is the Japanese food which you are most proud of?" The answers that I have received have always been consistent - Ramen. Bear in mind Japan has no shortage of awesome food and I particularly like their clean and subtle style of cooking and food preparation which is a total contrast to Malaysia's overbearingly strong and rich flavoring in food.

The struggle is real coming back from my several Japan trips, as it is a challenge to find high quality Ramen places in Kuala Lumpur. Do not get me wrong, there are too many Ramen places around, but the truly good ones are too few and far in between.

Sometimes, when the going gets tough in life, perhaps the only thing that can make everything OK was a beautiful bowl of Ramen.