Goichi - Great Authentic Japanese Ramen in Sarasota

One of the dishes we loved in Japan was the flavorful ramen, a fast food in large bowls that came in many varieties. The noodles and the ingredients are very different than those found in ramen cups sold in American supermarkets. Until recently, there were only two restaurants in the U.S. where I'd found a typical large assortment of delicious, authentic ramen - Katana-ya in San Francisco (http://viaggiviniecucine.blogspot.com/2011/10/delicious-japanese-ramen-katana-ya.html) and Matsuchan in Canton, MI. 

Now we've discovered one in Sarasota - Goichi Sushi Cafe, which is owned by Goichi Matsumoto, (http://www.goichisushicafe.com/), which offers 32 kinds of ramen (http://www.goichisushicafe.com/#!cashandcarryramen/c1qsl)

We recently had the Tokyo Ramen and the Sapporo Ramen. Both were delicious and authentic. The Tokyo Ramen has sliced pork, hard-boiled egg, spinach, scallions, fish cakes, and bamboo shoots in a soy broth. The Sapporo Ramen has sliced pork, fish cakes, corn kernels, butter, bean sprouts, and garlic in a spicy miso broth. (It was spicy.) 

The ramen noodles are made with an antique, pre-1938, Japanese ramen machine.

Normally, the ramen is only sold as take out, except on Monday nights, when it is offered in the restaurant. The ramen sells for $10 per order. We discovered that a single order can easily feed two people.

Goichi's web sit has a video about it's ramen-making.

There is another type of dish that I intend to try - donburi, which is a bowl of rice with other ingredients on top. Goichi has five of these, two of which are on our list to try - Gyu Don, which has beef, and Ten Don, which has shrimp, fish, and vegetables. These are described as, "Early Bird Rice Bowls," and they sell for $7.95.

The restaurant also offers many types of sushi and 19 types of interesting-sounding Asian salads. Among the sushi rolls are nine types created by their customers.

The restaurant is very small inside - with only about five tables and two chairs at the bar.

Goichi is only open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It does not accept reservations.

Goichi is located at 4563 Bee Ridge between Honore and McIntosh.

御馳走様でした。大変おいしかったです！