Back in 2017, this was the spot for top-tier ramen. The Szechuan peppercorn numbness was addictive, and memorable, and that marinated egg? Perfect every time. It wasn't just a bowl of ramen, it had character. Definitely set itself apart from the usual spots back then. Hopefully it is does. Looking forward to going back this weekend. read more

Tried two bowls at Ooink and came away with a clear favorite. The mala kotteri (black garlic ramen) is visually striking...deep, dark broth topped with a great soft-boiled half egg, fried garlic chips, menma, and chunky cha siu that had great flavor and texture. At level 2 spice, it brings enough heat without overwhelming the richness of the broth. But the real surprise was the regular shoyu. It has this layered umami quality that's a little different from what I expected. After eating the mala kotteri first, the shoyu almost tasted like it had some seafood worked into the broth. That depth really won me over. read more

Ooink - Mala Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is a super interesting Chinese-Japanese fusion restaurant combining Japanese ramen with mala flavors from Szechuan. Funnily enough, my favorite dish here is actually the Malaysian fried chicken, but the ramen is still pretty solid. The place is really small and it gets pretty busy so either come here at an off hour or be prepared to wait a bit for a table. It sounds a bit strange to recommend Malaysian dishes at a Chinese-Japanese fusion restaurant, but the fried chicken and cucumber salad here are the sleeper hits. The cucumber salad is super fresh but has an amazing umami and nuttiness from the peanut sesame sauce. The fried chicken is my favorite thing here. You get 3 giant drumsticks for only $13 which is pretty cheap. The skin is super crispy and it's really flavorful with all the spices. The ramen here is good but not my favorite. If not for the fried chicken, I would probably give this place 4 stars. The broth is rich and I love the mala oil they use. The mapo tofu ramen is pretty unique but I'm not sure the tofu actually adds anything to the ramen. I also wish there was more customization like noodle thickness and firmness. read more

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they're silk sauce is absolutely out of this world! Love love the food from this place! Will be back for sure

Ooink is AMAZING, and I will happily return again. Solid menu of various types/flavors of ramen and a few other specialty items. Restaurant is super tiny, and you order yourself on an iPad. I'm guessing no substitutions makes it easier for the super friendly staff you get orders out quick. Ours order was ready in no time at all. No fountain drinks, but a bunch of different drink selections in the fridge next to the order station. 4 orders of ramen, 4 sodas, and a pork gyoza cost $125...not too bad. Flavor of the ramen is totally worth the price. read more

Ooink - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place has been in my to go list for a while. Hesitation: parking and it's cap hill after all, it's sketchy area. Parking: street or upper level parking. See photo for parking rate. First 30 min are free Located in the 2nd floor. You can access via staircase from Broadway. We ordered: Mapo tofu ramen Koterri ramen Shoyu ramen Spicy ayam goreng fried chicken- not too spicy, crispy outside, very moist inside. We love all the ramen, unique flavour, thick broth, perfect flavour. Seating: inside only Restroom: 1 single restroom only. There's a self serve station for water and sauces etc. We would love to come back for more if you dont have to pay for parking. read more

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TLDR: super comforting bowl of ramen, perfect for Seattle rainy weather Decided to come here for lunch on a random weekday. Seattle was doing what it does and raining which put me in the mood for a nice bowl of soup. Coming here, it's located on the 2nd floor above QFC. You order on a small kiosk in front, take a number, and choose a table to dine. The workers were pretty attentive and went ahead and cleaned my table before serving my food which was really appreciated. First the soup - super creamy and umami (kind of surprised for a shio broth). The chashu was also super flavorful and matched the broth really well. The noodles were a thinner texture and the bamboo shoots were a nice contrast to the whole bowl. Overall solid bowl of ramen, will definitely be coming back again! read more

Ooink - Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ramen was quick to come out and fresh! Cha siu was nice and tender but could be more flavorful. They were generous with the toppings. But it was a little messy in terms of getting spoons and napkins and bussing your own table read more

Ooink - Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm almost convinced that Seattle doesn't understand the concept of great noodles. Or maybe I've been spoiled by all the amazing noodles I've had in my life both outside and homemade. Oiink is located in a mall, casual, with an abundant amount of seating. You order at the cash register and the workers bring the ramen to you. After you're done you bus your own table. I tried the Mala Kotteri ramen at a spice level 3 which wasn't too spicy. The broth itself is a little greasy with the added mala oil. And while the broth is flavorful (lended by that amazing kick of black garlic), it was missing the sour/sweet component. If you add a little bit of chinese vinegar that they have on the side, it elevates the broth slightly. Still, there was something missing that could've taken this broth to another level. The best part of the ramen was the pork, which is melt in your mouth juicy. And the noodles are pretty good too. My partner, who ordered the regular kotteri ramen, downed his bowl in minutes and agreed that the pork was pretty damn good. His ramen was less greasy than mine because he didn't have the mala oil. It's safe to say I wouldn't mind coming back, but maybe if someone else was paying or if I was in the area. It's affordable and decent tasting ramen. read more

Ooink - Mala Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Probably my favorite ramen I've had in Seattle to date. Ordering is easy. Ramen is outstanding (get the add ons) and the fried chicken and cucumbers are musts. read more

Ooink - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Really sad to be leaving this review. I've heard of Ooink since I moved to Seattle 8 years ago, and was told it was regarded as one of the best ramen spots in Seattle. Finally got a chance to try it and was pretty disappointed. My fiancé and I came back from a vacation to Tokyo just earlier in the week. As I was eating and forming my opinion I did think, am I not liking this because I'm comparing it to ramen in Japan? Is that unfair? We had many bowls of various styles of ramen in various areas/neighborhoods in Tokyo. Gotta say even the bowl we had at the Tokyo Narita airport was tastier than the bowls we had at Ooink. First of all, it was hard to swallow the $20/bowl price. Yes, Seattle is expensive so not really surprised. Two bowls, an order of gyoza, and two soda cans cost us $70. I ordered Shio ramen and my fiance ordered Shoyu ramen. Unfortunately they tasted exactly the same, we could not tell the difference at all. The flavor was bizarre, very fishy tasting which I found strange since it is a pork based soup, as is most ramen. The flavor was strong, but not good. My partner felt it lacked salt (he likes saltier things than I do). The noodles were basically just spaghetti noodles, they lacked that chewy ramen texture that I love. The fat in the broth was separating and congealing on the top of the bowl. Yes, ramen broth is typically fatty and silky but this was extreme. The gyozas were fine, they were reminiscent of the frozen ones you can buy at the grocery store. Unfortunately we will not be coming back here and I would not reccomend this place for ramen lovers. Was it absolutely horrible? No. It was edible. Not worth $70 though. read more

In my short trip to Seattle, I became obsessed with this place. They are so much better than that hand pulled noodle place on Pike. Everything's better the noodles, the broth, the service.. and it's cheaper too. First, I tried the Mala Kotteri because it was their signature dish. I got a spice level of three. While it was very good, I didn't like that the chili oil overwhelmed the flavor of the delicious broth. And it might've been too many flavors going on for me, but for a spicy food lover, it might be the right thing. Next, I got the Shoyu Ramen, this was great because I could experience the delicious 26 hour broth. It might be the best broth I've ever had. This would be great if you wanted a mild classic style Ramen. Lastly, I tried the Ma Po Tofu Ramen. This was my personal favorite. It is the most delicious thing I've eaten on this whole trip! It struck just the right balance between spice and the Umami flavor of the broth. At a spice level of one you could taste the Szechuan peppercorn, but it was subtle and did not overwhelm the broth. I love the garnish of crispy noodle and that cabbage stuff on top was incredibly delicious. I think if I lived here I would become addicted to this dish. 10 out of 10! I also love that they had garnish on the side, including Szechuan peppercorn, chilis and black vinegar. This place is legit! read more

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Got a delicious bowl of shoyu pork ramen. Broth was very nutty and rich - the mushroom umami flavor was very strong. Meat portions were normal and noodles were acceptable. Nothing spectacular for the $20+ price per person but this place w was a self-serve no tipping establishment so I can give some credit to that. Small joint with decent seating and great service, would come again if in the area and hungry. read more

Ooink - Shoyu Pork Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came in with a group of 7 around 9:30ish on a Friday, and it's located above the QFC. The restaurant was quite full, and we weren't sure if we could sit and eat but another couple was incredibly kind, and moved to a two person table so we could take their 6 table. I ordered on the tablet and took a plastic number. They let you check a spice level, along with all types of additions. They have self serve water and utensils, and sauces, and some chopsticks at each table. A worker came and gave us all soup spoons. Food came out pretty quickly. I really enjoyed the mala ramen I got! Really flavorful broth, well cooked meat, it was maybe a tad oily. I got a spice 4 (highest spice) and that was a good amount for me, but it's strong numbing flavor. I could definitely taste a difference between a 2 and a 4. We also got an order of the fried chicken, and that was easily the best thing we had. The chicken was huge, piping hot, crispy exterior, really juicy meat. I will be getting it for myself when I go back! read more

Ooink - Mala Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been wanting to try Ooink for YEARS and I'm glad to have finally tried it. Ooink is a ramen restaurant in the Harvard Market right above QFC in Capitol Hill. Unlike most places in Seattle, there is a convenient free little shared parking lot for Ooink and the other businesses in this area. Our group of five got here pretty early on in the day, a little before noon. It wasn't busy yet. There was maybe a group or two already seated and eating before we arrived. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so having a group of five was a bit of a stretch for how small the seating arrangements are. I wouldn't bring no more than a group of four here, unless you don't mind sitting apart from one another. Once you arrive, you need to order first before getting seated, if you plan on dining in. So placing our orders was quick and easy! Our group was able to submit and place our orders with the self-ordering kiosk, as well as having someone assist us. I ordered the Mapo Tofu Ramen The spice level ranges between 1 and 2 for this ramen bowl. It has a numbing and spicy silky pork soup with shoyu flavor with ground pork and silken tofu, noodles, and zacai. I have never seen another ramen restaurant serve a Mapo Tofu Ramen, so I was very intrigued by this option. The broth is quite different from other ramen broths I have had. It is super creamy. I wasn't the biggest fan of how creamy the broth was, but it was still good nonetheless. My sister's boyfriend ordered the Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which I had to mention given how fast they made it and brought it out! They brought it out before his ramen. It's a fried crispy chicken thigh with shredded cabbage, cucumber, and house-made sauce. It is a highly demanded menu item here. read more

Ooink - Mapo Tofu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Best ramen I've had ever, originally from Oregon and I love Asian food. I try all kinds of Asian dishes and this has to be the best I've had. Will visit again when I come to Seattle. Every ingredient can be tasted in the ramen. Flavor is delicious, service is OK, I'm here for the food. Small but homey feeling read more

Ooink - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First comment, so you're prepared, the tables mostly seat 2 and cannot be moved (they're bolted to the floor). So if you're coming with a group you'll have to camp at multiple tables. We ordered a number of ramens to try. Ordering was quick and easy and the server was very friendly. All of the pork was super tender and the soup bases flavorful. read more

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I absolutely love the soy sauce egg. I could eat two or three at a time. Out of this whole city, Ooink makes the best. I met the owner years ago when the restaurant first started up and I was impressed by the hardworking nature and attention to detail. The rich broth and delicious ramen really complement one another with the egg addition really taking flavors to another level. The chicken is delicious as well and it's a great local joint. read more

this might be my favorite ramen place in seattle. the broth is packed with flavor, noodle are chewy, and comes with all the toppings. i got the shoyu ramen and it is such a good basic. spicy assam goreng is spicy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. parking is a bit of a feat, you have to pay read more

Ooink - spicy Spicy Ayam Goreng - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food isn't bad, but it isn't great either. It's hard to beat Danbo and Menya as cap hill ramen spots. The kotteri ramen is what I generally order and resembling of black tar (if you're into that). The broth has a very strong first sip, the flavor hits hard and permeates your taste buds. Strangely and inversely from other ramen broths I've had, the flavor mutes over time and by the end of the session you're struggling to taste it. Eat the garlic chips fast because they will sog up in the broth. read more

Ooink - Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Was excited to try a newer spot in the area but wouldn't say it's a top 5 ramen spot. If you prefer heavier and richer broths, especially the Mala numbing flavor, this could be your spot. However, you can't customize richness of broth, firmness of noodles, etc. Tried the #5 Mala Kotteri Ramen and wouldn't get it again: noodles too firm even for someone who usually picks firmer noodles at Ramen Danbo and Ichiran. Though most other ramen spots also remake char siu and a soft boiled egg, both were tad overcooked here and left sitting too long. read more

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Traveling to Seattle you MUST stop by this place that I found through Social Media , I just loved their Mala Ramen , it's to kill for ! Their Spicy Chicken sandwich is crunchy , a little sweet and salty blend of awesomeness ! Gyoza was soooo warm and refreshing, like an orgasm in your mouth ! The spicy ayam goreng was very tasty too ! The service of course was top tier and the vibe is very welcoming and warm ! And be sure to grab a mala chilli or garlic peanut crunch chilli sauce to spice up your food at home ! read more

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Still great after all these years! You can tell the staff still cares about serving a quality product, and they do! read more

Been wanting to come here and finally got the chance. They seem to be known for pork broths, and let me tell you, it was delicious!! I got the koterri ramen, which was flavourful and creamy. The pork is well marinated and slightly sweet . I also got the Malta spicy chicken sandwich which also pairs well with the sauce they give you. It's not the best chicken sandwich I've ever had, but still very flavorful. It's upstairs and heads up, there isn't a lot of seating. When I went on a Wednesday night, there weren't any lines. read more

Ooink - Spicy chicken sandwich - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A small sized restaurant located above QFC with mostly seating for two people. Very quick service on a weekday mid afternoon. Ordered the shoyu ramen, which was pretty tasty in terms of textures and flavors. A solid spot for ramen! read more

Ooink - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came in on a rainy day and this was the perfect meal to warm me up. I got the mala ramen with level 3 spice and this had a nice kick to it. This was very yummy and filling. The restaurant is quite small so you should only order if you know there will be seating. read more

Ooink - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ramen was delicious!! The tofu was our favorite but both broths were so savory. Sandwich is hugeee, the chicken was super crispy and sauce went perfectly with it. read more

Ooink - Hot Chicken Sandwich - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My favorite is between the mala and the black garlic ramen. The fried chicken is excellent, and I would recommend getting it (it does take a few extra minutes to be ready). The seating inside is causal and quite limited, mostly 2-4 person tables - but it usually doesn't take more than 15 minutes on a weeknight. I would make come for an earlier or later dinner on a weekend. Overall a solid choice for ramen in Capitol Hill. Standard difficult parking for Capitol Hill. I would recommend coming by public transit. read more

Ramen was good, but I was not super crazy about the Mala Ramen that my son and I got. I usually like Ma pepper dishes like Ma Po rudy, but it was a little too much in the ramen for my tastes. I selected 4 star spicy, but it was more "numbing" than spicy. Not a lot of seats and there was about a 15 minute the Sunday night that we were there, and that cleared out quickly. Casual interior, which seemed appealing for a ramen place. I will likely go back, but select a more traditional ramen next time. read more

Ooink - Mala Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A cozy place tucked above the qfc in Capitol Hill that has delicious ramen! We went on a Tuesday night and were able to order and get a table right away. It isn't the biggest space, so I could see how it could get busy quickly on weekends or at peek dinner hour. Service was very quick, so I think the wait for a table wouldn't be long if it were busy. The broth was super flavorful and had so many yummy add ins. Definitely a go to place for ramen! read more

Ooink - shoyu ramen and garlic ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Been awhile since I've been here. Nice that there's parking downstairs. A quick meal, order on the tablet and someone will bring it out for you. A small spot with a max seating for four people. Overall a solid spot but nothing to rave about. The pork char siu was a bit tough for me and I actually didn't end up finishing it. Broth was nice, a little salty. Nice, in a pinch but there's other ramen spots nearby that are better! read more

Ooink - Black garlic oil ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Dang I really slept on this place. I'd say this is one of the best ramen in the city and definitely better than some like ramen danbo for example. We got the spicy ayan goreng which was a solid fried chicken, and I got the mala ramen which was spicy, noodles were al dente, the flavor was full without being overly rich, and the meat and veggies were exactly what they needed to be. read more

Ooink - Ayan Spicy Ayam Goreng - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really enjoyed not only their ramen, but also the efficiency. We were in and out in 20 minutes. I got their kotteri (black garlic) ramen and was really impressed with how the broth was simmered to achieve a deep flavor, and the fresh garlic was a really nice addition. The noodles were really fresh and chewy. Biggest critique I have is that the texture of the cha shu tasted more like that of pork shoulder than pork belly. They never stated what it is on the menu, so I was left confused about what I was really eating. I still thought it was cooked very well - it was pretty flavorful and it wasn't too dry. I'd love to come back the next time I'm in Seattle, but the Capitol Hill neighborhood feels very unsafe, so I would proceed with caution. read more

Ooink - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

More like 3.5 but rounded it up. Mala Kotteri Ramen (4/5): delicious and flavorful. I love spicy food so I went with the highest level (4) and it just felt like 2-2.5 at most. Malaysian fried chicken (3/5): it may look big but it's just 3 pieces of drumsticks. Flavor was good but also very salty. Everything is self serve fyi read more

Ooink - Mala kotteori ramen (4/5) and Malaysian fried chicken (3/5) - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

order: mala kotteri ramen, spicy ayam goreng the ramen was pretty interesting, got level 1 spicy out of 4 and it was more of a numbing spicy. wasn't overpowering and made my mouth burn, but more subtle and slow the pork was good, wasn't over cooked or like nasty. the broth was so yummy, i rlly liked the noodles with the bamboo for the texture and the garlic too. the ayam goreng (not in the pics) were chicken wings that were decent. they were rlly crunchy and not dry, but i would've preferred more seasoning or more lime on the wings. overall pretty solid ramen spot!! yummy rating: 8/10 read more

Ooink - mala kotteri ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Nut allergy friendly - Some appetizers have nuts, but the ramen is good to go. Seating is limited here, only a few longer tables. Order-to-Ramen: 12 Minutes Order-to-Chicken: 17 Minutes Shio Ramen (4.5/5): Added an egg. Pretty good serving size - had a good amount of noodle, and actually three pieces of chashu pork. Had a good balance of everything. Spicy Ayam Goreng (4.5/5): Very sharable. Big wings of Malaysian fried chicken, which reminds me of Korean fried chicken but with more spices and a little less crispy. Super sharable; we got three big pieces and easily tore it apart to split among 5 people. Solid ramen overall, one of the best in Seattle that I've had in the area. read more

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Hands down my favorite ramen ever. Both ramen had a very rich broth and melt-in-your-mouth tender meat. The ramen had a good amount of toppings and everything was cooked to a good texture-- not undercooked or overcooked. I got level 2 spicy for my Mala Ramen and it was quite spicy! So I would recommend playing it safe if your spice tolerance is low. I have been here several times before and I am always absolutely stuffed afterwards. Great portion size and you could probably even share with a friend if you guys aren't super hungry. Our cashier/server was very kind and attentive to us. Even with a full restaurant he was making sure that our food was good and arrived quickly. The restaurant feels hole-in-the-way and welcoming. It may admittedly a bit tight if all the seats are taken but you'll still have a good amount of room for yourself. read more

Ooink - Mala Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Tender pork chashu, rich and flavorful broth, and the half-boiled egg is simply the best. Perfectly balanced and satisfying--highly recommend! read more

Ooink - Shoyu Ramen Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had read about the limited seating at Ooink, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that when we arrived on a Saturday a bit past 1PM, there was only one other group eating in. That changed over the course of the next 30 minutes. By the time we left, the place was completely full. Typically, a kiosk at the front counter is used to place an order, but I guess since it wasn't too busy, one of the workers was at the register to help us. We ended up getting three dishes. Shanghai Style Ramen ($11) - I went into this dish thinking it would be like a Shanghai-style scallion oil noodle, but made with fresh ramen. Totally wrong. This dish is essentially ramen in dashi with several spoonfuls of fresh and caramelized scallion on top. The taste profile is very similar to a toshikoshi soba - basically chewy noodles (ramen instead of soba) in a dashi broth. The dish is refreshing and light, with plenty of umami. The noodles are a bit on the firmer side, with a chew that can really be felt on the teeth. The flavor of the scallion gets completely lost in the dashi, making it taste nothing like a scallion oil noodle. Maybe it was just my preconception plaguing my perception of this dish, but I really don't know what makes it "Shanghai Style." I guess the main attraction is the pricing - it's like 40% off compared to all the other ramens. (3/5) Kotteri Ramen ($18) - The noodles have the same firm bite as the Shanghai Style Ramen, but everything else is an improvement. Firstly fried garlic slices that add a slightly bitter fragrance. Some bamboo shoots on the side, marinated until salty/earthy and adding a somewhat crisp texture. Half of an aji tamago, jammy in the center and lightly marinated, less spiced than others, but working well with the ramen. Two slabs of chashu, rich in taste, thick, and tender. Due to the thickness, it's possibly a bit dry in the center. And finally the rich broth, totally the opposite of the previous ramen. It's luscious, thick, and silky, filled with pork essence, without any froth. Drinking the broth sticks to the bones. (4.5/5) Ayam Goreng ($12) - The ayam goreng took an additional 10 or 15 minutes to come out freshly fried. The dish comes with three very large fried chicken drumsticks. When I say large, I mean it: the length by itself reaches almost 7 inches! The meat is basically half filleted off the bone, making it easy to eat without having to gnaw the meat off the bone. The chicken is marinated in a plethora of spices, fried hard, then seasoned with additional spices, including turmeric, lemongrass, curry leaf, and others. Lime juice is drizzled on top, resulting in a taste that is extremely flavorful, with hits of almost lime-salt throughout. Eating the fried spice garnishes add additional crisp and flavor to each bite. The issue? The half fillet technique results in drumsticks that are inconsistent in cut and size, requiring vastly different fry times. The first piece I ate was completely bone dry and tough to chew, requiring ample amount of broth/water between each bite, basically like a dried out husk of meat. Crisp and flavorful for sure, but unpleasant to eat. The next piece was a bit better - there was at least some semblance of moisture left in the meat. The final piece, also the piece with the most meat sheltered on the bone was by far the best. I think the concept of this dish is to maximize the surface area of the chicken that can be dredged in the spices, but each chicken drum is too inconsistent in size and thickness to pull this concept off. (3/5) The non-Shanghai Style Ramens served at Ooink seem to be the standout stars. I would revisit to try some of their other ramen. I just wouldn't get the Shanghai Style Ramen or the Ayam Goreng again. Bathrooms - One unisex room read more

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Great ramen!! Service by edgar was phenomenal. Definitely recommend this place to any Ramen lover read more

Ooink - Mala Kotteri Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Seattle, Washington