The rivalry between Bone Daddies, Tonkotsu and Shoryu is FIERCE.
Don't worry - I've got you covered.
It just means I have to go to all 3.
For research obviously, intense scientific experimentation ;]
I went to Shoryu first.
Shoryu is brought to you by the same people who run the Japan Centre.
But Shoryu is in a league of it's own.
It specialises in Hakata Tonkotsu ramen noodles, and their head chef is born and raised from the Hakata district in Japan.
It's so authentic it hurts.
Dracula Tonkotsu - £11.50
I know what you're thinking..
It's not close enough!!
Better?
and again?
Tonkotsu Ramen Broth is typically thick, creamy and nearly white in color - why? because it is made from pork marrow bones that have been slowly simmered to smithereens.
All the tonkotsu ramen here comes in a rich tonkotsu pork broth with bbq pork, nitamago egg, kikurage mushrooms, beansprouts, spring onion, sesame, and ginger.
The price ranges from £6-11.50 for the ramen.
For £11.50, the Dracula Tonkotsu is the most expensive dish on the menu.
It was described as having ''deep roasted tones from caramelised black garlic mayu, balsamic vinegar and garlic chips.''
It was worth every penny.
Breakdown:
Broth: it was creamy, it was dreamy, and it was full of flavor without being too salty.
The garlic wasn't super overpowering, and did not take away from the holy grail of the dish that is the pork broth.
But I would advise you not to get all close and personal with someone after eating that.
Noodles: they had a bite to them so they weren't soggy and overcooked nor were they so under cooked that they were un-relentlessly chewy. Perfectly al dente.
The Dracula Tonkotsu is a thing of beauty.
So much of a beauty that there is probably no reason to show you what B. had because it just doesn't compare to mine.
----
Okay, I give in...:
The Natural - £8.90
The Natural - a shitake and konbu soy based broth with tofu, bamboo, kikurage, beansprouts, spring onion, sesame, white ginger and spinach.
But as glorious as B. said it was.
It was just no match for the DRACULA TONKOTSU.
Let us just bask in it's glory again; together.
Shoryu, conforms to the no reservation trend that is sweeping London.
But that does not affect their service, all the staff were really friendly and very knowledgeable of all the dishes there, and despite coming here on a Saturday night I didn't feel rushed to eat at all.
Avoid at peak times if you don't like to queuing.
But even if you have to wait, the Dracula Tonkotsu is so worth the pain.
Yummei points: 9/10
Where?
9 Regents Street,
London,
SW1 4LR
