In 2013, the birth of the Original Ramen Burger by Keizo Shimamoto made foodie history. An angus beef patty, arugula, scallions and secret shoyu sauce served in between two beautiful homemade ramen buns changed burger expectations everywhere. While bun substitutes, such as shiitake mushrooms and grilled cheese, have existed for many years, Shimamoto took burger innovation to a whole new level with a bun made of ramen noodles.
The Original Ramen Burger can now be found in many destinations around New York City as well as in Los Angeles, Corona Del Mar, and Tokyo!
After seeing this burger in the hands of many at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I decided I had to give it a shot. While the line was long, it moved quickly, and I received my very own ramen burger in no time.
My first reaction to the burger was that it was tiny and didn't look like much of anything. But when I bit into it, my taste buds immediately smiled. Every ingredient melded together perfectly.
The noodles were soft yet firm, and they stayed together while I chowed down. The beef patty was moist in the best way possible, and the sauce, which radiated with vibes from the flavor of Top Ramen, acted as the most incredible punch of flavor. I would have eaten ten, had the first one not been so filling.
For $10, you definitely get what you pay for. It is easy to say that I have fallen head over heels for this decadent creation.
Red Robin joined the anti-bread burger movement a while ago by cutting carbs and introducing a "lettuce wrap your burger" option. However, just recently they have expanded their menu in a way that says, "You're so boring," to standard buns everywhere.
That's right, Red Robin has introduced their very own ramen burger. They call it the Red Ramen Burger; because who doesn't love a good food pun?
As someone who claims the Original Ramen Burger changed their life, I decided that I should probably give the Red Robin version a shot. If I enjoyed it, I could get a delicious burger nestled between two golden ramen noodle buns, even when I wasn't in the city. If I didn't like it, I could pledge my loyalty to Keizo Shimamoto forever.
The Red Ramen Burger costs roughly $10, the same amount as the beloved original. While Red Robin could have easily jacked up the price, they kept it reasonable and even gave some away for 22 cents!
The burger consists of an all-beef patty (vegan options are also available) served on a crispy, seasoned ramen bun. It comes topped with teriyaki and chiu chow aioli, fried jalapeño coins, chili-infused shredded cabbage, carrot, onion and fresh basil.
With words like "infused" and "aioli" in the ingredient list, I was beyond excited to put my Chopped judging skills to the test. After waiting no longer than I would on an average trip to Red Robin, my meal was placed in front of me.
My immediate reaction to the burger was that it was huge. Much bigger than the Original Ramen Burger. However, my second reaction to the burger was sheer disappointment.
The noodle buns were crisp beyond belief, and I had to take one of them off to even bite into the burger (a lady at the table beside me had to do this as well). Once I could take a bite, my mouth was overwhelmed with the dryness of the noodles and patty itself (I had ordered it medium). Even if some of the flavors were enjoyable, it was impossible to find them over the overwhelming burnt oil taste that the bun gave off. To put this in the nicest way possible, everything tasted "blah."
The Red Ramen Burger was impossible for me to eat, and even if it were a manageable size and texture, I'm not sure I'd want to eat it ever again. I'm deeply saddened that this burger was unable to live up to its punny name. Red Robin should probably just rename it "The Disappointment." It is easy to say that my loyalty will now stay with the Original Ramen Burger forever and always.
My experiences with both burgers are simply based on personal preferences. To each their own. I recommend everyone go out and try both of these super inventive creations.
However, if you're only going to try one, I'll leave you with this: You wouldn't choose a tribute to your favorite band over seeing your favorite band live for the same price. Why would you try anything other than the Original Ramen Burger?
