Restaurant Reivew
Neighborhood Ramen
Ramen seems to be all the rage in trendy cities across the country today. Today's ramen has been upgraded quite a bit from the bland cheap packaged noodles we all ate back in our college days.
There are numerous options throughout Center City. For good ramen at a good price, head over to Neighborhood Ramen in the Queen Village residential area. Located just a few blocks from Old City, Neighborhood serves as an excellent place refuel on something warm and delicious, especially on a cold winter's day. After much exploration in "America's most historic square mile," take a brisk walk over to Neighborhood Ramen for a comforting bowl of ramen.
This place continues to receive much praise, with Visit Philly recently ranking it as one of the best places in the city for ramen.
Food
Ramen is the perfect treat on a cold winter's day. It's bursting with flavor and totally filling despite being mainly broth and noodles. Neighborhood offers 5 different bowls including a wonderful vegetarian option, the Yasai. This bowl includes a combination of Vegetable dashi, roasted mushroom, menma, shiso oil, and ajitama. Definitely give this one a try, especially if you are going the healthy route.
Pricing is a bit steep at $12-14 a bowl, however, it's well worth the splurge. If you need something to go along with your bowl, consider adding on a sesame salad or oshkino (Spicy sesame shoyu pickled Persian cucumbers).
Service
There is no waiter service here. You will order at the counter and they will bring out your bowl when ready. Unfortunately, due to the traffic, the food can take a long time. Luckily, it's worth the wait!
Atmosphere
The decor is minimalistic, yet stylish. Unfortunately, there is not much seating, so be prepared for a possible wait if your visit falls during a busy period (summer weekends for instance). Try to time your visit during the week, if possible.
Final Remarks
For a delicious treat in between exploring the historical attractions of Old City, definitely give Neighborhood Ramen a shot. Treat yourself to the delicious Yasai bowl. Take a break, relax for a bit, and savor the unique flavors.
