My friend suggested that we try the newly opened Bankara Ramen in Westfield Doncaster recently. Her friend's friend from Japan mentioned that he really liked the ramen and thought it the best in Melbourne. It seems like everyone has a 'friend's friend'...
We were warmly greeted by various waiters and waitresses shouting Japanese greetings to us two non-Japanese speaking females as we walked into the restaurant. They could have been shouting rude words to us and we wouldn't have known. But judging by the smiles on their face as they greeted us, it was highly unlikely. Oh wait.... but that's what I do to my boss in Chinese. Just joking. Spiked his tea, yes. But never say rude words to a colleague at work. That would be bullying :)
I ordered the signature Bankara Ramen ($14) without the extra trimmings. There is the Premium option which includes pork belly, onsen egg, bamboo shoots and so on for $20.
My ramen came with pork, bamboo shoots, scallions, and a piece of seaweed. The soup was rich and salty, but I had expected the salt and richness. I have had the real McCoy in Japan (incidentally cooked by a Japanese chef who had travelled Australia while working as a fruitpicker) and knew what it was meant to taste and look like. What I didn't get was a depth of flavour to the soup. This was not what I expected to a long braised pork soup. I also found the soup very oily, with lots of pork fat floating around the broth.
Bankara serves three soup bases - their signature Bankara which is pork bone broth plus soy sauce; Tonkatsu which is pork bones boiled over high heat for long hours; and Chuka Soba which combines seafood to the broth. My friend ordered the chuka soba (not pictured) and declared I should order the Chuka Soba next time I visit since I was unimpressed with mine. Maybe next time....
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