Popular ramen shop Noods Ramen Bar, which first opened in Kaimukī almost five years ago, recently launched its third location in Hawaiʻi Kai Shopping Center. The eatery opened in the former spot of Bobo Bao shop, and it’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The menu at this location is a little more condensed, compared to the one at the Kaimukī location. Most of the ramen bowls are on there, just some of the appetizers from the Kaimukī location — like chicken karaage — will be added in the future.
The dining setup is a hybrid between the eatery’s Kaimukī and Windward Mall locations — there are a few tables for customers to sit at, but it’s not full table service like the Kaimukī location. However, it’s also not quite like the ramen shop’s location in the Windward Mall food court, which opened in November 2022.
Start with sides like garlic chili gyoza ($7), ginger scallion gyoza ($7) and garlic fried rice ($4). The garlic chili gyoza — featuring five pieces of pan-fried gyoza topped with green onions and garlic chili oil — is a customer favorite.
Ramen bowls feature Hakata-style noodles from Sun Noodle. While the black garlic tonkotsu ($17) — pork bone broth, green onions, chashu, aji tamago, menma, garlic chips, nori sesame and black garlic oil — is the most popular dish, I recommend trying the truffle tonkotsu ($18), which is a newer option. It features many of the same ingredients, but with the addition of truffle powder and white truffle oil instead of garlic chips and black garlic oil. The truffle flavor isn’t overwhelming, but it’s substantial enough for truffle lovers to appreciate.
If you’re looking for something more unique, go for the miso pesto ramen ($15). The savory medley features miso broth, basil pesto, green onions, chashu, aji tamago, menma, nori, parmesan, crushed chili, sesame and negi oil. The basil flavor is strong, and there’s a lingering spice from the crushed chilies.
Fun fact: Noods Ramen Bar also has a huge selection of vegan ramen. While the broths differ — choose from vegan shio ($13), vegan shoyu ($13), vegan tan tan men ($15) and more — toppings usually include corn, choy sum, menma and miso shiitake mushrooms.
CONTACT
Noods Ramen Bar
Hawaiʻi Kai Shopping Center
377 Keahole St., Honolulu
noodsramenbar808.com
Instagram: @noodsramenbar808
Open daily, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
